Amid the growing speculation over a rift with the Congress and murmurs of him leaving the party, the Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said that he would attend the meeting called by the party high command in New Delhi.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has summoned its senior party leaders and representatives from Kerala for a meeting in New Delhi at 4.30 pm on February 28 (Friday) to discuss the ongoing dissent within the party’s state unit and Assembly elections scheduled to take place next year. The Congress is the main opposition party in Kerala and is seeking to wrest power from the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Addressing the controversy surrounding his recent remark on IE Malayalam podcast, Tharoor questioned the criticism. “If you have heard the podcast, I would like to know what is controversial. Can you tell me what the issue is? I haven’t said anything particularly [controversial]. Shashi Tharoor also praised Kerala’s entrepreneurial growth under the LDF government. Tharoor highlighted the government’s achievements in fostering a positive startup ecosystem and introducing new industrial policies in Kerala.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor first earned the scorn of some of his congressmates after he praised PM Modi. Tharoor had said, “What we have seen from the press statements by the Prime Minister and President Trump are very encouraging. Some of the big concerns we all had have been addressed.”
The Congress MP hailed, “The commitment to sell the F-35 stealth aircraft is very valuable because that is a state-of-the-art aircraft.” This was directly in contradiction to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala’s statement. Surjewala had remarked, “The F-35, which Elon Musk has described as ‘junk’, why is Narendra Modi hell-bent on buying it?”
Shashi Tharoor commented on the Trump-Modi meeting, expressing hope that Modi defended Indian migrants. He praised the outcome of trade negotiations and noted positive statements from both leaders. Tharoor acknowledged Trump’s compliment to Modi as a strong endorsement of his negotiating skills. While welcoming PM Modi to the White House, President Trump called him a great leader, who is doing a great job in India. Further hailing him the US President said, “He is a much tougher negotiator than me, There is not even a contest.”
Political speculation around Tharoor’s future intensified after his comments in the podcast, where he asserted his commitment to the Congress but also hinted at alternative options. “If the party wants me, I will be there. If not, I have my things to do. You should not think I don’t have any options,” he had said. While addressing the issue of intra-party conflicts in the Congress, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said, “Some in my party oppose me, but I speak for India and Kerala’s future.” He further insisted that despite facing criticism, he is loyal to Congress and is willing to take on a larger role in the party if required.
Despite his intellect, eloquence, and four consecutive wins from Thiruvananthapuram, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor remains an outsider in his party. The Congress has no heart or house for Tharoor as it finds him too independent for national politics and too unconventional for Kerala’s faction-ridden political affairs.
