THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has stirred a political debate by declaring that he is certain Pinarayi Vijayan will continue as Kerala’s chief minister.
Speaking at the inauguration of an international conference organised by the state planning department in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, Aiyar praised Pinarayi’s leadership while launching a sharp critique of his own party.
His remarks came despite Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala, urging him not to attend the event, which they alleged was designed to bolster the state government’s image ahead of the assembly election. Ignoring the request, Aiyar not only participated but also made comments that placed the Congress on the defensive.
Aiyar said that under Pinarayi’s stewardship, Kerala had emerged as the nation’s leader in grassroots governance, fulfilling Rajiv Gandhi’s vision more effectively than any other state. He argued that while Kerala ranks first in practical implementation, it stands second to Karnataka in legislative measures, and urged the chief minister to take up the responsibility Congress had abandoned in advocating for Panchayati Raj. Aiyar added that Kerala under Marxist rule was the only state to have realised Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of an India where even the poorest felt ownership of the nation and a decisive voice in its development.
He admitted uncertainty over whether his words would be seen as praise or criticism, but expressed regret that his party colleagues were absent from such a nationally significant event. His speech concluded with Pinarayi rising to greet him warmly with a handshake.
Nobel laureate Prof Amartya Sen, in a video message, said that Kerala has the capacity to protect and strengthen secularism at a time when it is weakening across the country. Sen emphasised that his early impressions of Kerala remain as strong as ever, particularly regarding the state’s achievements in education, healthcare, and social cooperation.
In his speech, Pinarayi described Vision 2031 as a crucial milestone for building a “new Kerala”, stressing that collective effort is essential to achieve its goals. The state’s progress in education and healthcare has drawn global attention as the “Kerala model” of development, but he emphasised that the model must be updated to meet contemporary challenges. Highlighting the importance of secularism and democratic values, the CM said development is possible only when these principles are protected. In Kerala, secularism is not just an idea but a way of life, Pinarayi added.