Congress Leader V. Hanumantha Rao Slams Pinarayi Vijayan’s Remarks on Rahul Gandhi

Senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao (VH) has strongly objected to recent remarks made by Pinarayi Vijayan against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi , arguing that such criticism is misplaced at a time when opposition parties are expected to remain focused on challenging the BJP-led government.

Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, VH said the formation of the INDIA alliance was driven by a shared commitment among opposition parties to counter what they view as the divisive politics of the BJP , the RSS , and Prime Minister Narendra Modi . He noted that Rahul Gandhi has consistently called for greater unity among secular and democratic forces to defend constitutional values and social harmony.

According to the Congress veteran, Vijayan’s comments reflect political frustration rather than constructive engagement. He said public attacks on leaders of parties that are part of the broader opposition spectrum only weaken efforts to build a united front against the BJP. VH described the remarks as unnecessary and reiterated that the alliance’s primary objective remains confronting the BJP’s political and ideological agenda.

The exchange comes amid renewed debate over opposition unity, particularly between the Congress and Left parties, which often find themselves on opposing sides in states such as Kerala despite sharing common ground on several national issues.

Meanwhile, the controversy also drew a response from BJP state spokesperson Sheik Baji , who used the opportunity to target both the Congress and Communist parties. Referring to Vijayan’s observation that Rahul Gandhi’s political approach ultimately benefits the BJP, Baji questioned the nature of the Congress-Left relationship and accused Communist parties of adopting double standards for political convenience.

He further alleged that Congress policies since Independence had created space for forces opposed to national interests and claimed that Communist parties had historically aligned with Congress whenever it suited their political calculations. Citing developments ranging from the split in the Communist movement during the 1960s to the Emergency era and later cooperation during the UPA government , Baji argued that the relationship between the two parties has long been marked by both collaboration and conflict.

The BJP leader also took aim at political developments in Kerala, claiming that both Congress and Communist parties are facing increasing challenges in maintaining their influence. He suggested that recent interactions between leaders of the two camps have created uncertainty among their supporters about the direction of opposition politics.

The latest war of words highlights the continuing strains within the opposition landscape, even as parties opposed to the BJP seek to project unity ahead of future electoral contests.