Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Sustains Foot Fracture After Stumble on Parliament Steps
In an incident that has captured national attention, Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor suffered a foot fracture after stumbling on the steps of the Parliament building on Wednesday. The mishap, which was captured in a now-viral video, shows the Thiruvananthapuram MP losing his balance while descending the stairs, resulting in a significant injury that has since been medically confirmed.
Medical Confirmation and Tharoor's Resilient Response
On Thursday, Tharoor's team issued an official statement on social media platform X, confirming the severity of the injury. "After an X-ray this morning, Dr Shashi Tharoor's injury has been confirmed as a fracture. He's in good spirits and will continue with parliamentary work and other engagements as feasible (perhaps on a wheelchair). Thank you for all the good wishes!" the post from Tharoor's office declared.
Accompanying the announcement was a photograph that perfectly encapsulates Tharoor's characteristic optimism. The image shows the Congress MP smiling broadly, wearing sunglasses, and flashing a confident thumbs-up gesture while holding a 'Get well soon' card. Remarkably, he appears to be standing on the very foot that sustained the fracture, demonstrating his determination to maintain normalcy despite the setback.
Parliamentary Commitment Despite Injury
The fracture did not deter Tharoor from fulfilling his parliamentary responsibilities. According to multiple reports, the veteran politician attended the ongoing Parliament session in a wheelchair, arriving at the House with the assistance of mobility aids and departing in the same manner. This display of dedication underscores his commitment to legislative duties even while managing a painful injury.
The Viral Incident and Timely Assistance
The now-circulating video footage reveals the precise moment of the accident. Tharoor can be seen speaking on his mobile phone while attempting to navigate the Parliament steps. Whether he missed a step or encountered an uneven surface remains unclear, but the recording clearly shows him stumbling and beginning to fall.
Fortunately, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav, who was standing nearby with other SP leaders, reacted swiftly. Yadav immediately reached out to support Tharoor, preventing a more serious fall. Reports indicate that Yadav also instructed his team to assist Tharoor with carrying his bag, showcasing cross-party camaraderie during an unexpected emergency situation.
Political Context and Recent Engagements
The incident occurred against the backdrop of significant political activity. On Wednesday, Tharoor had visited the Leader of the Opposition's office for a meeting following considerable controversy surrounding remarks targeting the Modi government, which had led to repeated adjournments in Lok Sabha proceedings.
This meeting marked Tharoor's first engagement with Rahul Gandhi since their previous discussion with Mallikarjun Kharge the prior week. Outside Parliament, Tharoor had strongly defended Gandhi regarding recent remarks, asserting that the party leader had been denied adequate opportunity to speak during parliamentary sessions.
The combination of political tensions and this physical accident creates a compelling narrative about the challenges faced by parliamentarians in their daily work. Tharoor's positive attitude despite the fracture, coupled with the spontaneous assistance from a political colleague from another party, highlights both the physical demands of parliamentary work and the human connections that transcend political boundaries.
