New Delhi: In the midst of controversy regarding his comments lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala, senior Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor stated his willingness to serve the party, while cautioning that he had “options” should his services not be needed. During an appearance on the IE Malayalam podcast, Tharoor dismissed speculation about a potential party switch, asserting that he did not foresee such a move despite existing differences in viewpoints.
Tharoor’s statements gained attention as he had previously commended the policies of the Kerala government and praised Prime Minister Modi for his meeting with US President Donald Trump, remarks that have not been well received within the Congress party.
In the podcast discussion, Tharoor addressed the ensuing controversy, expressing that he does not consider himself a traditional politician and acknowledged having “narrow political thoughts.”
He urged the Congress party to broaden its appeal in Kerala to engage new voters and pointed out the lack of a prominent leader within the state unit of the party.
The 67-year-old politician asserted that other Congress members supported his perspective regarding the leadership vacuum in Kerala, referencing independent opinion polls that indicated his favorable standing in terms of leadership potential within the state.
The four-time Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram cautioned that if the Congress party fails to broaden its appeal, it risks finding itself in the opposition for a third consecutive term in Kerala, where Assembly elections are set to take place next year.
Tharoor also declined to address rumors regarding discord between himself and the Congress party, instead suggesting that journalists focus on the India vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy match occurring today. “I have no comments to make. Please go watch the match; it is a significant event today,” he stated to reporters at the Delhi airport earlier today.
On Saturday, Tharoor posted a quote from the English poet Thomas Gray’s poem, ‘Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College,’ which stated, “Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.” He accompanied the quote with the caption, “Thought of the day.”
THAROOR MEETS RAHUL GANDHI IN DELHI
On February 18, Tharoor had a “very good conversation” with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. He mentioned that he was able to communicate several important issues to Rahul Gandhi during their half-hour discussion.
When pressed for details about the private meeting, the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member refrained from providing further information. He clarified that there was no discussion regarding the upcoming elections or the roles of leaders in Kerala.
Rahul Gandhi had extended an invitation to Tharoor for this meeting following a controversy surrounding Tharoor’s article that praised the LDF government in Kerala for its support of entrepreneurship, a viewpoint that was firmly rejected by the state Congress and other opposition figures.
When asked about the ongoing criticism from Congress leaders in Kerala regarding his article, Tharoor expressed confusion over the basis for the controversy.
In response to a question about whether he had raised concerns about being marginalized within the party at both the state and national levels, Tharoor stated, “I have never lodged any complaints against anyone.”
The individual remarked that the debate surrounding his article, which commended the Left Front government in Kerala for its investment-friendly initiatives and startup programs, had “yielded some positive outcomes” by facilitating a dialogue on the matter.
“For the past 16 years, I have been addressing the issue of Kerala’s youth seeking opportunities abroad due to unemployment, emphasizing the necessity for startups and the encouragement of entrepreneurship within the state,” he stated.
Tharoor further clarified that his commendation of Prime Minister Modi’s recent engagement with Trump was made in the interest of India as a whole, asserting that “we cannot consistently frame our discussions solely in terms of party interests.”
KERALA CONGRESS RESPONDS TO THAROOR’S PODCAST INTERVIEW
Senior Congress figure Ramesh Chennithala expressed his reluctance to comment on Tharoor’s statements, noting that the latter may have conducted the podcast interview prior to his meeting with Rahul Gandhi.
“My understanding is that he recorded the interview before his discussion with Rahul Gandhi. I prefer not to respond to this due to that context. We do not wish to create any controversy surrounding it,” he remarked.
“When I served as the President of the Kerala Congress, I had invited him to join the party as he was departing from the UN, and I also proposed that he contest in Palakkad. He acknowledged this in the interview, which is accurate,” he added.
