'I Have Other Options': Shashi Tharoor At Odds with Congress Leadership
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Controversy regarding Shashi Tharoor’s discontent with Congress state leadership is brewing even after the former met former party chief Rahul Gandhi to discuss his concerns, suggesting his lingering grudge with the party leadership. The Thiruvananthapuram MP warned that if Congress does not want him, he has alternative options. ‘I have many other things to do; I have been getting invitations for events across the world.’ he said.
Speaking to Indian Express, the former UN undersecretary general also pointed out that the Congress in Kerala is having leadership troubles and it would continue to sit in the opposition if it did not address it and work diligently. The four-time MP also claimed that even those who oppose Congress vote for him due to his interaction with the people in his constituency. He also said the fact that he had been elected four times as Thiruvananthapuram MP showed that the people supported his right to express his views independently regarding the development of the state and the country.
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Tharoor also pointed out that several agencies have observed that he has good leadership qualities, and therefore the party should use them.
Notably, several political analysts observe that Tharoor is eyeing the chief ministerial candidature in the upcoming state assembly elections in Kerala, which are scheduled for 2026.
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Recently, Tharoor had faced criticism from the state Congress leadership for his praise of certain policies of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government in Kerala. Reacting to the controversy, the Congress MP had written, “Thought of the Day: “Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.” Tharoor is of the view that he would praise good policies irrespective of the political party. Tharoor had also praised Prime Minister Modi on his recent US trip, drawing criticism from the party.
Speaking about the party, Tharoor, in the recent Indian Express interview, said that Congress cannot win only with its committed vote base both at the national and the state level. “If you look at the national level, the Congress vote was around 19%. Would we be fine with our own vote base? Only if we get 26-27% additional votes can we come to power. So, we need those who have not backed us in the last two elections,” the media house quoted the MP.
