Congress objects to Vijayan’s messages, not Modi’s, says Kerala minister P. Rajeev

Bengaluru: Kerala Law and Industries Minister P. Rajeev on Monday criticised the Opposition Congress for raising objections over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s bulk mobile messages while remaining silent on similar outreach initiatives by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a post on X, Rajeev accused the Congress of adopting a “selective” stance on privacy concerns. “Congress in Kerala raises the issue of a ‘data leak’ when citizens receive a message from the Chief Minister. But when the Prime Minister’s message reaches the same phones, they remain silent. This is not about privacy; it is blatant hypocrisy,” he said.

Rajeeve, who represents Kalamassery in the state assembly, alleged that the Congress had repeatedly taken positions that indirectly benefited the BJP despite projecting itself as an opposition force. “Selective outrage and double standards have become their political identity. People can see through this duplicity,” he added.


The remarks come amid a political row over an alleged bulk messaging campaign linked to Vijayan that reportedly targeted state government employees. The controversy has gained traction ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, expected by the end of May, with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) seeking a third consecutive term in office.

Rajeev, in a recent post, had referred to recent comments by senior Congress leader and former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, claiming they amounted to an endorsement of Vijayan’s leadership. According to the minister, Aiyar described Kerala as the only state moving in Mahatma Gandhi’s direction and expressed confidence that Vijayan would continue as Chief Minister.


Highlighting Aiyar’s remarks, Rajeev said Kerala had been recognised as a national model in decentralised governance and Panchayati Raj. He added that the former Union minister had urged the state government to carry forward the decentralisation agenda, which he claimed the Congress had abandoned.

“At a time when the Congress in Kerala criticises the state’s achievements, such candid remarks from one of its senior leaders expose the gap between political rhetoric and national perception,” Rajeev said, adding that the comments reflected growing acceptance of Vijayan’s governance beyond party lines.

The Congress has accused the state government of misusing official data for political communication, a charge rejected by the ruling LDF.