‘Pick up the baton’: Mani Shankar Aiyar’s campaign for Pinarayi Vijayan sparks controversy; Congress draws line | India News

New Delhi: congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar New controversy sparked on Sunday after praising Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan And expressed hope that the left-wing government will return in the upcoming parliamentary elections.The move comes as the Congress party seeks to regain power in Kerala in polls due in May this year.Addressing an international seminar titled ‘Vision 2031: Development and Democracy’, Aiyar asked Vijayan to “take up the baton dropped by the Congress party”.He added that it was ironic that the country that had made the most commendable progress towards achieving this goal was Kerala, which was ruled by a “Marxist-Leninist party”.“I don’t know if it’s a compliment or an insult, but I deeply regret the absence of my party colleagues from this event, which is a state occasion and therefore a national occasion. While Kerala is the first Panchayati state in practice, it is only second in law,” Aiyar said.“So, with my confidence that the chief minister will continue in office, I make another plea – to strengthen the position of Kerala as the best Panchayati state in the country. The state laws should be revised based on practical experience, Thomas Isaac’s insights, the five-volume report chaired by me and VK Ramachandran’s note on district planning circulated by the Planning Commission when it was really supporting the Panchayati Raj,” he added.“So, Chief Minister Vijayan, I must fall at your feet and request you to pick up the baton dropped by the Congress party. Thank you and may Kerala prosper,” he further said.Vijayan described Aiyar’s remarks as “charming words” that resonated with the current context.Aiyar’s observations reflected today’s situation and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots democracy, he said in a social media post about the Vision 2031 international conference.“We are united in the belief that democracy can only thrive when power belongs to the people. We will continue to strengthen our local institutions as the heartbeat of growth. ” said the leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).‘It has nothing to do with Congress’Meanwhile, Aiyar’s remarks did not go down well with the Congress leadership.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera tried to distance the party from Aiyar’s remarks, saying he had no association with the Congress in the past few years.Hera said in a post on X that Aiyar “speaks and writes purely in a personal capacity.”“Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has no connection with the Congress party in the past few years. He speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity,” Hera said.Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh also refuted Aiyar’s remarks and said the United Democratic Front (UDF) will return to power in Kerala.“There is no doubt. The people of Kerala will bring back the UDF for more accountable and responsive governance. They also know that the LDF and the BJP are secret partners,” he said.