Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has publicly criticised senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that despite being a national leader, he does not have enough political experience.
Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan said Rahul lacks even the level of understanding expected of a state-level leader and does not make an effort to clearly grasp issues. He also alleged that Rahul does not learn from experience, calling such traits unfit for a strong political leader.
Vijayan further accused the Congress of indirectly helping the BJP, describing the party as the BJP’s “B team”. Referring to Assembly elections in Delhi, Haryana and Bihar, he claimed Congress chose to stand alone instead of working with allies to defeat the BJP, which he said made it easier for the BJP to win.
He also cited Rahul’s remarks about central agencies not acting against him, and pointed to Congress’s reaction when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested. Vijayan said Kejriwal’s subsequent release had dealt a blow to both the Congress and the BJP.
In response, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V.D. Satheesan accused Vijayan of attacking Rahul Gandhi to gain favour with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Satheesan alleged the CM was criticising Congress to escape pressure from central agencies and claimed the BJP had used the Karuvannur service cooperative bank case to threaten the state leadership during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Kerala.
