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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Congress<\/a> leader Mani Shankar Aiyar<\/a> on Sunday stoked a fresh controversy after lauding Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan<\/a> and expressing hope for the return of the Left government in the upcoming assembly elections.This comes as the Congress seeks a return to power in Kerala in the polls scheduled for May this year.Speaking at an international seminar titled \u201cVision 2031: Development and Democracy\u201d, Aiyar asked Vijayan to \u201cpick up the baton that the Congress has dropped.\u201dHe added that it may appear ironic that the state which has made the most commendable progress towards that goal is Kerala, ruled by a \u201cMarxist-Leninist party\u201d.\u201cI 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. While Kerala is the first state in panchayati raj in practice, it ranks only second in law,\u201d Aiyar said.\u201cSo, in the presence of the chief minister, who I am confident will continue in office, I renew my plea \u2014 to reinforce Kerala as the best panchayati raj state in the country. State laws should be amended based on practical experience, Thomas Isaac\u2019s insights, the five-volume report I chaired, and the note on district planning by V K Ramachandran circulated by the Planning Commission when it truly supported panchayati raj,\u201d he added.\u201cTherefore, 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,\u201d he further said.Vijayan described Aiyar\u2019s remarks as \u201ccharismatic words\u201d that resonated with the current context.In a social media post about the Vision 2031 International Conference, he said Aiyar\u2019s observations reflected the contemporary scenario and reaffirmed his government\u2019s commitment to strengthening grassroots democracy.\u201cWe stand united in the belief that democracy flourishes only when power resides with the people. We will continue to strengthen our local bodies as the heartbeat of growth,\u201d the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said.\u2018No connection whatsoever with the Congress\u2019<\/span>Meanwhile, Aiyar\u2019s remarks did not go down well with the Congress leadership.Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera sought to distance the party from Aiyar\u2019s comments, saying he has had no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years.In a post on X, Khera said Aiyar \u201cspeaks and writes purely in his personal capacity\u201d.“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,” Khera said.Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh also rubbished Aiyar’s remarks and said that the United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to return to power in Kerala.\u201cLet there be no doubt. The people of Kerala will bring the UDF back for more responsible and responsive governance. They also know the LDF and BJP are covert partners,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n\n