After senior Congress leaderMani Shankar Aiyarpublicly praised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and expressed confidence in his return to power, the Grand Old Party swiftly distanced itself, asserting that he has had no connection with the party in recent years. In an exclusive conversation thereafter, with Times Now, Aiyar launched a blistering attack on the Congress leadership, calling the party a “herd of competing scorpions” and declaring, “I am a Gandhian, a Nehruvian, a Rajivian—but not a Rahulian.” He also questioned whether leaders like Pawan Khera could decide his fate, escalating the political row ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections.

"If I’m being kicked out of Congress, it’s because I am a Gandhian, a Nehruvian, a Rajivian - but I’m not a Rahulian...," Mani Shankar Aiyar said while speaking to Times Now on Monday. He called the Congress a "herd of competing scorpions." Responding to Congress leader Pawan Khera's remarks, Aiyar said, "Is Pawan Khera or KC Venugopal going to decide my fate in Congress? The only person who can expel me is Mallikarjun Kharge and to my knowledge, he hasn’t expelled me in writing. Maybe by the time I return to Delhi, I’ll have it on paper." Aiyar called Pawan Khera a "puppet of Congress."

"No one knows Rajiv Gandhi better than I do—I was his principal aide. I know his greatest dream was to bring democracy and self-governance to the people of India. He was a true Gandhian. So, who runs the best panchayat system in the world? It’s Kerala...," Aiyar said praising the Kerala government.

"Since the people of Kerala are among the most intelligent in the country, I can only say such intelligent people can only elect the Pinarayi government because the Congress is a herd of competing scorpions," he added. Mani Shankar Aiyar had earlier expressed confidence that Vijayan will continue to be the Kerala's chief minister, with Congress claiming that Aiyar was speaking in "personal capacity".

On Aiyar's remarks on Vijayan, Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera on Sunday said, "Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has had no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years. He speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity."

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh tagged Khera's post on X and asserted that the people of Kerala will bring the UDF back in power in the state for more responsible and responsive governance. "Let there be no doubt. The people of Kerala will bring the UDF back for more responsible and responsive governance. They also know LDF and BJP are covert partners," Ramesh said on X.

Aiyar has served as the Union minister for panchayati raj during the Congress-led UPA government. The controversy comes at a time when the Congress party is seeking to return to power in the state, with Assembly elections scheduled in the coming months.

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I’m Arpitha Ajayakumar, Senior reporter for times Network. Born in Kerala but being from a defence family, brought up in different parts of India. My...View More

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