Overview
- At a Thiruvananthapuram seminar, Mani Shankar Aiyar praised Kerala’s Panchayati Raj record and said he was sure Pinarayi Vijayan would remain chief minister.
- Congress leaders Pawan Khera, Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal said he spoke only in a personal capacity, with Ramesh asserting voters will bring the UDF back to power.
- In subsequent interviews, Aiyar called Khera a “puppet,” labeled K C Venugopal a “rowdy,” accused Shashi Tharoor of eyeing the foreign ministry, and said only Mallikarjun Kharge could expel him.
- Aiyar later argued the Vijayan comment was blown out of proportion yet reiterated praise for the LDF’s governance and his belief it will win another term.
- Chief Minister Vijayan welcomed Aiyar’s remarks as affirming grassroots democracy, while Kerala Congress figures voiced anger and warned the episode harms the UDF’s narrative.