Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala:, January 23: Senior Congress leader and four-time MP Shashi Tharoor has skipped a crucial party strategy meeting in Delhi, intensifying speculation about his strained relations with the Congress high command, particularly with Rahul Gandhi. The meeting, convened to prepare for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, was attended by top state leaders, Rahul Gandhi, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Tharoor’s Absence Sparks Political Controversy
Sources initially indicated that Tharoor would join the 2:30 PM meeting virtually due to a prior commitment at a literature festival in Kozhikode. However, it was later confirmed that the Thiruvananthapuram MP did not participate at all, citing his scheduled engagement. This absence is being viewed through the lens of ongoing internal conflict within the Congress party.
Reports suggest Tharoor is upset over a perceived lack of “due respect” during Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Kerala. This incident adds to a series of friction points between the diplomat-turned-politician and the party’s central leadership.
Praise for PM Modi & BJP Fuels Congress Internal Conflict
Shashi Tharoor’s relationship with the Congress has been increasingly uneasy, primarily due to his public remarks that have been perceived as praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government. His comments on the government’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor military strikes drew sharp retorts from within his own party.
Congress leaders have previously accused Tharoor of angling for a switch to the BJP—a claim he has consistently denied. In June last year, Tharoor told NDTV, “It is not a sign of my leaping to join his party… It is a statement of national unity.”
BJP Seizes Opportunity to Mock Congress Rift
The tension was further highlighted on Thursday when Tharoor posted a selfie with former BJP MP and current Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir. Tharoor remarked that Gambhir held the “second-hardest job in India, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was quick to respond, drawing parallels between criticism faced by Gambhir and PM Modi. He stated, “Tharoor’s acknowledgement that Prime Minister Modi has the hardest job in India…” and predicted “one more Congress fatwa against Tharoor.”
Impact on Kerala Congress and Upcoming Elections
As a key figure in Kerala politics, Tharoor’s absence from the election strategy meeting raises questions about the Congress party’s cohesion ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections. His strained ties with the leadership could impact the party’s prospects in Thiruvananthapuram and beyond.
The Congress has yet to issue an official statement on Tharoor’s absence. However, party insiders indicate that the central leadership is closely monitoring the situation as it navigates internal dissent and prepares for a tough electoral battle.
Will Tharoor Switch to BJP? Political Analysis
While speculation about a potential Shashi Tharoor BJP join continues to swirl, the MP has firmly ruled out any party switch. Nonetheless, the Congress vs Tharoor conflict remains a recurring theme, often exploited by the BJP to highlight disunity within the opposition.
Political analysts suggest that Tharoor’s independent stance and willingness to credit the government on certain issues keep him at odds with his party’s line, creating an ongoing Congress internal rift.
