Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor Dismisses Kerala Chief Minister Speculation
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has firmly dismissed ongoing speculation about his potential candidacy for Kerala's next chief minister. In an exclusive interview with PTI, the Thiruvananthapuram parliamentarian clarified that he is not even in the race for the top position, primarily because he is not contesting the upcoming assembly elections.
Not a Chief Ministerial Probable
Tharoor made his position unequivocally clear, stating, "I am not a chief ministerial probable." He emphasized that since he is not contesting the elections himself, he does not have to focus on a single constituency. Instead, his role will involve campaigning extensively across the entire state for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
The veteran politician explained that the chief minister should ideally be chosen from among elected MLAs, a principle that automatically excludes him from consideration given his current parliamentary status.
Unity Message and Electoral Confidence
Referring to Rahul Gandhi's recent message urging party leaders to "dance together," Tharoor called it a positive directive that has already fostered visible unity within the alliance. He expressed considerable confidence about the UDF's electoral prospects, suggesting that securing between 85 and 100 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly would represent a strong outcome for the coalition.
Using a cricketing analogy that resonated with his characteristic style, Tharoor said the UDF was bowling "googlies" to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), arguing that the ruling alliance finds itself on a "sticky wicket" as elections approach.
Congress's Traditional Approach to Leadership
While acknowledging that modern elections increasingly revolve around projecting a chief ministerial face, Tharoor defended the Congress party's traditional approach. "The Congress has never done that," he explained, noting that the party leadership typically prefers to select a leader after electoral victory, following consultations with elected MLAs.
However, Tharoor admitted that this absence of a clear face could present certain drawbacks. "You and I may have a different view... for there to be a situation where you don't have a visible leader in a state inevitably tends to hurt you," he conceded.
Despite this potential disadvantage, he argued that the Congress's organizational strength across Kerala enables the party to campaign effectively around "an agenda, around a mission and around the party logo" rather than relying solely on individual personalities.
BJP's Marginal Role in Kerala Politics
Tharoor downplayed the Bharatiya Janata Party's significance in Kerala's political landscape, describing it as a marginal player in the state. "It is not a triangular contest, for the BJP is a zero-seat party in the assembly," he stated bluntly.
He added that even if the BJP manages to gain "one or two or three" seats in the upcoming elections, such an outcome would be viewed as a major success for the party given its historically limited presence in Kerala.
The Real Contest: UDF vs LDF
The Congress leader insisted that the genuine electoral battle remains between the UDF and the LDF led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. While acknowledging that recent polling suggests a tight race between the two major alliances, he maintained that the BJP is "not even likely to have a big enough footprint to be a kingmaker" in the post-election scenario.
Kerala is scheduled to vote in a single phase on April 9, with counting of votes set for May 4. The election represents a closely watched battle to potentially unseat the incumbent LDF government, with both major alliances preparing for a vigorous campaign across the state.
