Mani Shankar Aiyar has once again endorsed the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala, saying the LDF is implementing Rajiv Gandhi’s vision through the strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions in the state. Earlier, Aiyar had also remarked that Pinarayi could secure a third term in the poll-bound state, where the Congress is striving to return to power.
“As a Congressman, I would like to see the UDF win. But I want to speak the truth. Pinarayi is going to be the next Chief Minister because, for the first time in 75 years of Kerala’s history, a government was not changed when the Congress should have come to power. If they were incapable of breaking the cycle of alternating governments, I don’t think they have the capacity to defeat the Left government,” he said.
On Monday morning, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala dismissed Aiyar’s remarks, saying the party was not taking him seriously. He also noted that Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera had made it clear that Aiyar is no longer part of the Congress.
Aiyar, meanwhile, praised the Left, saying that even if there are differences within the CPI(M), they are not played out in public, whereas disagreements within the Congress often become public. He also praised Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, calling him a “secular socialist.”
“He [Satheesan] stands between the right wing in the Congress and the left wing of the Communist Party. There are Congress leaders whom I greatly admire, and there are others like K.C. Venugopal whom Rahul Gandhi admires,” he said.
Aiyar also taunted the Congress leadership in the state, saying, “Promise me that Satheesan will be the Chief Minister and I am willing to withdraw my remark that Pinarayi will be the next Chief Minister.” The Congress has maintained that it will not announce a chief ministerial face before the elections and that the decision will be taken after the polls. Aiyar also personally criticised AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor.
When asked whether he would join the CPI(M) or any other party, Aiyar said no party was willing to take him. “I don’t need the Congress party because the Congress party does not need me… No other party has suggested that it would welcome me. No party wants me because I have a voice of my own, and the Communist Party, being a very disciplined organisation, certainly would not want me,” he said.
