3 months ago
1
The Congress has distanced itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks that Pinarayi Vijayan volition proceed arsenic the Chief Minister of Kerala, saying the seasoned person has had nary transportation whatsoever with the enactment for the past fewer years and helium speaks and writes purely successful his idiosyncratic capacity.
Congress besides asserted that the radical of Kerala volition bring the United Democratic Front (UDF) backmost successful powerfulness successful the confederate authorities for much liable and responsive governance.
Ahead of the Kerala Assembly polls, Mr. Aiyar expressed assurance connected Sunday (February 15, 2026) that Mr. Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) volition proceed to beryllium the State's CM.
Reacting to his remarks, Congress's media and publicity section caput Pawan Khera connected Sunday said, "Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has had nary transportation whatsoever with the Congress for the past fewer years. He speaks and writes purely successful his idiosyncratic capacity." Congress wide caput in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh tagged Mr. Khera's station connected X and asserted that the radical of Kerala volition bring the UDF backmost successful powerfulness successful the State for much liable and responsive governance.
"Let determination beryllium nary doubt. The radical of Kerala volition bring the UDF backmost for much liable and responsive governance. They besides cognize LDF and BJP are covert partners," Mr. Ramesh said connected X.
Speaking astatine an planetary seminar successful Thiruvananthapuram titled "Vision 2031: Development and Democracy", which was inaugurated by Mr. Vijayan, Mr. Aiyar said indispensable amendments should beryllium introduced to legally unafraid Kerala's apical presumption successful the panchayati raj strategy and offered suggestions for it.
Mr. Aiyar, who served arsenic the Union Minister for Panchayati Raj during the Congress-led UPA government, recalled Mahatma Gandhi's imaginativeness of India.
He said the begetter of the federation had envisaged a state wherever adjacent the poorest would consciousness ownership and judge that they person an effectual dependable successful nation-building.
He added that it whitethorn look ironic that the authorities that has made the astir commendable advancement towards that extremity is Kerala, ruled by a "Marxist-Leninist party".
"I bash not cognize whether this is simply a compliment oregon an insult, but I profoundly regret the lack of my enactment colleagues connected this occasion, which is simply a authorities juncture and therefore, a nationalist occasion," the Congress person said.
He said without a doubt, Kerala tops the illustration erstwhile it comes to Panchayati Raj and has fulfilled erstwhile Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's expectations successful this respect much than immoderate different state.
"But portion Kerala is the archetypal authorities successful Panchayati Raj successful practice, it ranks lone 2nd successful law," helium noted.
Mr. Aiyar said Karnataka has exemplary modern authorities based connected the recommendations of the Ramesh Kumar Committee, to which helium had suggested 38 amendments and each of those were accepted.
"So successful the beingness of the Chief Minister, who I americium definite volition beryllium the adjacent Chief Minister, I renew my plea that successful bid to reenforce Kerala arsenic the champion Panchayati Raj authorities successful the country, authorities laws should beryllium amended based connected applicable experience, Thomas Isaac's insights, the five-volume study I chaired and the enactment connected territory readying by V K Ramachandran circulated by the Planning Commission erstwhile it genuinely supported panchayati raj," helium said.
Mr. Aiyar added that determination is nary champion for Panchayati Raj near successful the country.
"Therefore, I indispensable autumn astatine your feet, Chief Minister Vijayan, and petition you to prime up the baton that the Congress has dropped. Thank you and whitethorn Kerala prosper," helium said.
Mr. Vijayan described Mr. Aiyar's remarks arsenic "charismatic words" that resonate with the existent context.
In a societal media station connected the Vision 2031 International Conference, the Left person said Aiyar's observations reflected the modern script and reaffirmed his government's committedness to strengthening grassroots democracy.
