Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor addressed his notable absence from a major party rally held in the national capital, attributing it to a pre-scheduled engagement overseas. The senior leader sought to quell speculation about internal discord, firmly stating that there are "no issues" from his end.
Prior Foreign Commitment Led to Absence
On Monday, Tharoor explained to the ANI news agency that he could not attend the Congress's "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday because he was out of the country. The former diplomat emphasized that the foreign trip was a commitment made six months in advance, long before the rally was scheduled. "I was abroad yesterday. It was a commitment I had made six months ago. From my side, everything is fine," Tharoor stated clearly.
A Pattern of Missed Meetings
This incident is not an isolated one for the Thiruvananthapuram MP. Tharoor had also recently skipped a crucial meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs, which was chaired by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and former party president, Rahul Gandhi. According to internal party sources, Tharoor had informed the leadership in advance about his unavailability for that gathering as well. Notably, another senior leader, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, was also absent from that parliamentary party meeting.
Social media posts on Tharoor's X timeline indicated that he was present at an event in Kolkata on Sunday night, following his return from abroad.
Context of the Rally and Tharoor's Recent Stances
The "Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod" rally marked a significant escalation in the Congress party's campaign against what it alleges are electoral irregularities. The party has intensified its focus on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, using the Delhi rally to amplify its message.
Tharoor's absences come at a time when the MP has occasionally taken public positions that diverge from the party's official line. Having joined the Congress in 2009, he has, in recent months, garnered attention for actions perceived as independent. For instance, he accepted an invitation from the central government to lead an all-party delegation on an international visit following Operation Sindoor in May. This move was notable as he was not officially nominated by the Congress party for that role, and he has also drawn headlines for his occasional praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives.
While Tharoor has provided a clear reason for missing the latest rally, his continued pattern of being absent from key party functions, coupled with his independent statements, keeps him a figure of significant interest and occasional speculation within the political landscape.
