Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has stirred fresh controversy within the party after making sharp remarks about several senior Congress colleagues and casting doubt on the party’s electoral prospects in Kerala.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, the former Union Minister commented on leaders including Shashi Tharoor, Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, while also predicting that the Congress would struggle in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections due to internal divisions.
Aiyar’s remarks come amid ongoing uproar over his recent praise for Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, where he had suggested that the Left leader would continue in office after the polls. The Congress has since distanced itself from Aiyar’s statements, with party leaders asserting that he speaks in a personal capacity.
Responding to criticism from Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera on Aiyar not being part of the party, Aiyar said, “Pawan Khera has said two years ago that I do not represent the Congress in any capacity whatsoever. So, it’s not new. He is a tattu (puppet) of the Congress. He’s not a spokesman. He is an inferior IAS officer who has come in here, and he’s been abusing me for the last two years. So why do you expect me to answer that question?”
“Pawan Khera is a puppet, tattu of Congress”
“If Congress cannot find anyone better than Pawan Khera to be its spokesperson, then it deserves to be where it is”
Veteran Congressi Mani Shankar Aiyar absolutely exposed Congress and gave special belt treatment to Pawan Khera🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/TpHBNWfi15
— Political Kida (@PoliticalKida) February 16, 2026
On the Congress’s prospects in Kerala, Aiyar said, “I want the Congress to win, but I don’t believe it will win, because they are all divided among themselves. I mean, they hate each other much more than they hate the communists. Whereas the communists are a totally united people. They’re a very disciplined party. And they’ve won it twice. It has never happened in the history of Kerala that anti-incumbency doesn’t work. He’s a clerk. How dare he make these repeated announcements about me? If the Congress party cannot find anyone but Pavan Khera to be its spokesman, then it will be in the condition in which it is.”
Aiyar also made pointed remarks about Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, referring to him as “anti-Pakistan” and suggesting that he harbours ambitions to become the “next foreign minister”.
Commenting on Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh, Aiyar said he has to “keep his job”.
Aiyar had earlier drawn attention for praising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a Thiruvananthapuram seminar titled “Vision 2031: Development and Democracy”, held months ahead of the Kerala Assembly polls where the Congress-led UDF is set to take on the Left.
At the event, Aiyar said, “I do not know whether this is a compliment or an insult, but I deeply regret the absence of my party colleagues on this occasion, which is a state occasion and therefore, a national occasion.”
A former Panchayati Raj Minister, Aiyar also lauded Kerala’s local governance model, stating, “Therefore, I must fall at your feet, Chief Minister Vijayan, and request you to pick up the baton that the Congress has dropped. Thank you and may Kerala prosper.”
The Congress leadership responded swiftly. Pawan Khera said in a post on X, “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.”
Jairam Ramesh also countered Aiyar’s assessment, stating, “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.”
Source: NDTV
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