From the heart of Kerala, Mani Shankar Aiyar, the fiery Congress veteran, has dropped a bombshell, critiquing the party’s choice of K.C. Venugopal as Rahul Gandhi’s key aide and Pawan Khera as spokesperson. His online rant has fueled a fresh internal storm, highlighting persistent rifts.
‘What kind of party picks Venugopal as Rahul’s Sardar Patel? Or finds only Khera fit to speak?’ Aiyar tweeted, remarks seen as pointed barbs at the duo, exacerbating tensions in a pivotal electoral season.
Addressing reporters, Aiyar lauded Pinarayi Vijayan’s administration as embodying Rajiv Gandhi’s vision, with Kerala spearheading decentralization alongside three other southern states, excelling across governance benchmarks.
In the company of Minister M.B. Rajesh and ex-finance head Thomas Isaac, Aiyar shared split loyalties: Congress heart for UDF, but Gandhian foresight for Vijayan’s triumph, praising his intellect and foreign policy initiatives.
With a flourish, Aiyar declared his Congress fidelity intact—down to his dhoti’s fringe. He skewered Shashi Tharoor as the ultimate careerist, questioning his pro-Modi stance post-UPA tenure. Brushing off switchover buzz, Aiyar said he’s a ‘troublemaker’ unwelcome elsewhere, vowing new avenues for dissent if expelled.
Kerala opp leader V.D. Satheesan advised gratitude to Congress. Aiyar’s words spotlight the party’s leadership woes and ideological battles.