India, Feb. 23 -- Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has sparked a fresh row with another remark, this time offering advice for MP Rahul Gandhi. He reportedly backed Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the INDIA bloc, saying that without her, the "alliance will be gone".

The fresh remarks come just days after Aiyar said he is not a "Rahulian" because the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha is much younger than him and is distant in his political life.

On Sunday afternoon, he said, "Mamata Banerjee is the leader of this (INDIA) alliance. Along with her, there are two or four others who can achieve this position."

"I hope that instead of trying to remain in this position, which belongs to smaller parties -- be it ...