Senior Congress leader and four-time Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has escalated tensions within the party by conspicuously absenting himself from a crucial All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting focused on the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. This move comes in the wake of what sources describe as a "deeply insulting" snub from former party president Rahul Gandhi at a recent Congress event in Kochi.
Tharoor's Absence Sparks Speculation
The AICC convened a high-stakes strategy session in Delhi on Friday afternoon, bringing together top party leaders from Kerala to finalize plans for the April polls. Tharoor, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), was notably missing from the gathering, which was chaired by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Rahul Gandhi. While state Congress leaders attempted to downplay his absence, party insiders confirm it has reignited speculation about Tharoor's standing within the organization.
The Kochi Incident: A Perceived Slight
According to multiple sources within the party, the root of Tharoor's discontent traces back to the Congress's grand mahapanchayat in Kochi earlier this week. Rahul Gandhi, who inaugurated the event as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, began his speech by acknowledging several leaders present on the dais. However, he conspicuously omitted Tharoor's name from his list of acknowledgments, which included as many as twelve other figures.
Furthermore, Congress leaders revealed that Tharoor was asked by the state party leadership to conclude his speech before Gandhi arrived on stage. Although Tharoor complied, winding up his address minutes after Gandhi's arrival, he was reportedly surprised to see at least six other party leaders, including some non-CWC members, speak after him in Gandhi's presence. This sequence of events left Tharoor feeling "deeply insulted" and "unwanted" in a party he once aspired to lead.
A History of Independent Stance
Shashi Tharoor, who began his political journey in 2009, has never been one to shy away from expressing his opinions on a wide range of state and national issues. This independent streak has often caused discomfort among sections of the Congress leadership, leading to periodic speculation about his future in the grand old party. The current episode marks yet another chapter in the ongoing tensions between Tharoor and the party top brass, both at the national level and in Kerala.
Strategic Implications for Kerala Polls
The timing of this internal discord is particularly sensitive for the Congress. Of the several states heading to Assembly polls in the coming months, Kerala represents the party's most realistic chance of securing a victory. In contrast, the Congress is a minor player in Tamil Nadu, a fringe force in West Bengal, and faces an uphill battle in Assam. The high command emphasized during Friday's meeting the need for amicable seat-sharing talks with allies and smooth candidate selection processes.
Traditionally, the Congress refrains from projecting a chief ministerial candidate before elections. However, the party must establish key election-related committees, including those for campaigning and manifesto preparation, to ensure coordination and unity of purpose. It was decided that a meeting of the party's state election committee will be held in Thiruvananthapuram next week to address these critical issues.
Official Reasons and Underlying Tensions
Officially, Tharoor informed AICC's Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi and general secretary (organization) K.C. Venugopal that he could not attend the Friday meeting due to prior commitments at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, where he has two events scheduled for Saturday. However, sources close to the development confirm that both Venugopal and Dasmunshi were aware of Tharoor's "unhappiness" stemming from the Kochi incident.
Tharoor, according to insiders, believes he cannot compromise on his "self-respect" and that the party should not "take him for granted." This stance reflects his long-standing reputation as a leader who values principle and recognition within the political arena. Attempts to reach Tharoor for comment on the matter were unsuccessful.
Broader Context and Future Outlook
This incident follows what appeared to be a thaw in relations between Tharoor and the party leadership. Earlier this month, photographs of Tharoor engaging in deep conversations with Kerala Congress colleagues during a two-day brainstorming session in Wayanad had signaled a potential resolution of differences. However, the recent developments suggest that underlying misgivings persist.
As the Congress gears up for the high-stakes Kerala Assembly elections, the question now circulating in party circles is what changed between the collaborative atmosphere in Wayanad and the conspicuous absence in Delhi. With Tharoor once again feeling sidelined, the party faces the challenge of presenting a united front while addressing the grievances of one of its most prominent and articulate leaders.
