Mani Shankar Aiyar vs. Congress Why the Veteran Leader is Calling the Party Foolish:

In a recent controversial statement on Monday, February 16, 2026, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar launched a scathing attack on his own party's current leadership, making headlines with the remark: "I am not a Rahulvadi."

According to the report by Live Hindustan, Aiyar expressed his dissatisfaction with the internal functioning of the Congress during an event, specifically targeting General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and spokesperson Pawan Khera.

Key Highlights of Aiyar's Statement:

"Not a Rahulvadi": Aiyar stated that while he identifies as a Gandhian, Nehruvian, and Rajivite (Rajivvadi), he does not consider himself a "Rahulvadi." He claimed that Rahul Gandhi seems to have "forgotten" that he (Aiyar) is even a member of the party.

Targeting K.C. Venugopal: He criticized the appointment of K.C. Venugopal to a position once held by stalwarts like Sardar Patel, questioning how the party could give such heavy responsibility to him.

Attack on Pawan Khera: Aiyar called the party "foolish" for making Pawan Khera its official spokesperson, labeling him a "puppet." He went as far as to say that if Khera were the one to expel him from the party, he would "kick him from behind" on his way out.

Support for the INDIA Bloc: Interestingly, Aiyar suggested that M.K. Stalin (DMK Chief) should be the Chairperson of the INDIA bloc instead of current leadership choices.

Kerala Predictions: He predicted that Pinarayi Vijayan would return as the Chief Minister of Kerala, a forecast that puts him at odds with the Congress party's interests in the state.

Context & Reaction:

This outburst is being viewed as a sign of deep-seated resentment within the veteran's circle of the Congress. Aiyar has historically had a "love-hate" relationship with the Gandhi family, famously having his career suspended in 2017 after his "neech" remark about PM Modi, only to be reinstated later. His latest comments have reportedly left the Congress party in a state of embarrassment.