Aiyar said asserted that the Congress was doing well in Gujarat under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. His comments come a day after he was suspended from the party over his “neech aadmi” remark. Congress also issued a show cause notice to the leader.

On 7 December, Aiyar called PM Narendra Modi a “neech kism ka insaan (a lowly person)”. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi promptly distanced himself – and the party – from the remark, saying that he expects Aiyar to apologise to Modi.