Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (right) greets Congress leader and former Union Minister during the ‘Vision 2031’ conference at the Kerala Legislative Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday (February 15, 2026)
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday (February 16, 2026) claimed that his remark that Pinarayi Vijayan would be the “next” Chief Minister of Kerala was “blown out of proportion” by the media.
Mr. Aiyar said the comment was just “half a line” in his speech and that it was exaggerated.
“It was only half a line in that speech which has been blown out of proportion,” he said.
However, he said the LDF government in Kerala was “doing outstanding work.”
“I made the speech after hearing Mary Joseph, who is the Principal Secretary of the Planning Board. She listed the achievements….,” he said.
On some Congress leaders claiming that Mr. Aiyar was not connected with the party anymore, the former MP said that only AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge could oust him from the organisation.
On Sunday, speaking at the international seminar titled ‘Vision 2031: Development and Democracy’, Mr. Aiyar had said he was confident that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would continue in office.
The remark drew sharp criticism, with AICC leaders publicly distancing themselves from his statement.
Published – February 16, 2026 02:26 pm IST
