Speculation ran rife after Shashi Tharoor missed a high-stakes Congress strategy huddle in Delhi, but the MP from Kerala set the record straight Saturday. Addressing the press in Kozhikode, Tharoor revealed he had looped in the party high command well in advance, attributing his no-show to unavoidable prior commitments rather than any brewing rebellion.
The Friday conclave, orchestrated by top brass, zeroed in on assembly poll tactics. Media quickly pivoted to Tharoor’s recent Kochi experience—where Rahul Gandhi featured prominently—positing it as the root of his discontent. Stories snowballed, painting a picture of deepening fissures in Kerala’s Congress machinery.
Tharoor pushed back firmly. In a measured tone, he stated, ‘All points were raised internally with leaders; public airing serves no purpose.’ His alibi? A book launch at Kozhikode’s literary fest, a commitment he honored after forgoing Jaipur’s event for politics last year. ‘Time constraints ruled out the Delhi round trip,’ he added practically.
Dismissing blanket media trust, Tharoor neither affirmed nor refuted ire over party moves, keeping his cards close. This calculated ambiguity aims to starve speculation.
Enter Ramesh Chennithala, CWC member, who lauded Tharoor’s multifaceted identity. ‘He’s a literary giant alongside his political hat—judge his absences accordingly,’ Chennithala advised.
In the high-pressure prelude to Kerala’s polls, Tharoor’s intervention is a masterclass in damage control. It redirects focus to electoral readiness, reminding stakeholders of the MP’s value as a bridge between politics and culture. Observers will watch if this silences detractors or merely delays deeper fault lines from surfacing.