Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who has been often pitted against his party on various issues, candidly conceded on Thursday that he shares different views with the Congress high command. But he emphasized that he has not turned away from the party.
Addressing the press on his return to Kerala, Tharoor had stated, "I was not here, as you know, and very recently our senior leader Thennala Balakrishna Pillai expired, and I am going there. So I am not going to reply to your pointed questions as I know what all questions you have in your mind."
Tharoor had just come back from the headship of a multi-party delegation to five nations, including the US and Brazil, under the government-sponsored 'Operation Sindoor' diplomatic mission.
Responding to queries over his tiff with the Congress leadership, he acknowledged, "Yes, I have differences of opinion with the Congress leadership, and that's known to all. Some things are public, and I will meet them (leadership) directly, and if they ask me directly, I will also reply. I'm not going anywhere. I'm a Congressman."
Tharoor's joining of the Operation Sindoor delegation, even though without official party support, and his occasional appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — especially in the government's response to cross-border threats — have raised controversy in the Congress.
Replied in a curt manner when questioned regarding his non-appearance on the campaign circuit for the Nilambur assembly by-election being held that day, "I was not invited for it."
That comment was followed swiftly by a denial from Congress MP colleague Rajmohan Unnithan, who rejected Tharoor's assertion and stated, "What's happening in Nilambur is not someone's wedding to be invited."
Unnithan elaborated that Congress leaders are expected to inform campaign committees of their availability rather than wait for formal invitations. "In the Congress party, what happens is it’s the leaders who inform their availability to the campaign committee, which decides which leader should campaign where, and there is no invitation extended to any Congress leader," he explained.
Taking an even sharper jibe at his colleague, Unnithan went on to say, "For quite some time now, his (Tharoor) mind is with (PM) Modi and the body with the Congress party. All except Tharoor know where he is going. He has no loyalty towards anyone except himself and always forgets how he arrived here after joining the Congress."
Tharoor's increasing drift from party positions and rising publicized tensions with his peers continue to stoke rumors about his next steps, even as he avers he's remaining within Congress ranks.
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