Congress rejects Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remark that Pinarayi Vijayan will continue to be Kerala CM

The Congress on Sunday distanced itself from comments by party member Mani Shankar Aiyar that Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Pinarayi Vijayan would continue as Kerala’s chief minister.

Party leader Pawan Khera said that Aiyar had “no connection whatsoever” with the Congress in recent years and added that the party would return to power in the state.

The Kerala Assembly elections are expected to be held in April.

Speaking at an event inaugurated by Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, Aiyar said amendments should be introduced to legally secure Kerala’s leading position in implementing the panchayati raj system, PTI reported.

“But while Kerala is the first state in panchayati raj in practice, it ranks only second in law,” PTI quoted him as saying. “So in the presence of the chief minister, who I am sure will be the next chief minister, I renew my plea that in order to reinforce Kerala as the best panchayati raj state in the country, state laws should be amended based on practical experience…”

Later in the day, Congress leader Pawan Khera said on social media that Aiyar speaks and writes “purely in his personal capacity” and has no connection with the party.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also shared Khera’s post and said that the residents of Kerala would bring...

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