Congress MP Shashi Tharoor May Miss Parliament's Final Weeks for Kerala Election Campaign
Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor announced on Monday that he may have to skip the final two weeks of the current Parliament session to actively campaign for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. This move would break what he described as his nearly flawless attendance record throughout his parliamentary career.
Breaking a Perfect Attendance Record
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Tharoor emphasized his commitment to parliamentary duties while acknowledging the electoral demands. "I have an almost 100 per cent attendance record throughout my parliamentary career. But now it looks like this election is going to make that impossible," he stated candidly.
Tharoor elaborated further, "I will probably not be here for the last two weeks of Parliament in order to campaign." This decision highlights the intense political preparations underway as Kerala gears up for crucial state elections.
Congress to Announce Candidates Soon
The Congress leader confirmed that his party would soon reveal its candidates for the Kerala assembly elections. "In the next couple of days you will see some candidates being announced. The filing of nominations is open until Monday and we will certainly meet that deadline," Tharoor assured reporters.
He described the Kerala polls as a critical contest for the Congress party, with the explicit goal of unseating the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front government. "Kerala is an important election for us. The CPM-led LDF government came back to power last time, which is unusual because for nearly half a century the two fronts have alternated in government. We do not want them to repeat that. We want to change this government this time," he told the IANS news agency.
Early Election Schedule Poses Challenges
Tharoor noted that the early election schedule had caught political parties off guard, leaving limited time for preparation. Polling for the 140-member Kerala assembly is scheduled for April 9, compressing the campaign period significantly.
"The early election schedule has taken all of us by surprise. We were expecting the elections in the last ten days of April, but now the polling is on April 9. That means only a few weeks are left," he explained. This shortened timeline presents particular challenges for new candidates who need adequate time to connect with voters and establish their presence in constituencies.
Campaign Intensity Rises Across Kerala
Campaigning has already intensified across Kerala, with political parties launching high-voltage outreach drives ahead of the polls. Alliances are working diligently to finalize their candidate lists and mobilize supporters in what promises to be a closely watched electoral battle.
The compressed timeline means that candidates like Tharoor must balance their parliamentary responsibilities with urgent campaign obligations, creating difficult choices for sitting MPs who are also contesting or supporting state elections.
