Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor clarified on Thursday that he did not participate in the Nilambur bypoll campaign in Kerala because the party never invited him to do so. His statement comes amid speculation over his absence and perceived tensions with the party high command.
“I wasn’t invited by the party. But that’s alright,” Tharoor said with a smile, when asked about his absence during the campaign.
He explained that much of the campaign period overlapped with his five-nation diplomatic outreach mission, during which he led an all-party delegation abroad to explain India’s stance post-Operation Sindoor, the response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Upon his return to India, Tharoor said there was no follow-up or call from the Congress leadership insisting on his presence in Nilambur. Instead, he honored previous engagements, including chairing a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting in Delhi.
However, Tharoor was quick to reject notions of a serious rift, stating:
“There may be some differences with the party leadership on certain matters, but they should be discussed behind closed doors. I don’t see any reason to talk about them publicly now.”
He also reaffirmed his loyalty to the Congress party, saying that its institutional values were the reason he remained a part of it:
“Yes, there may have been differences, but I’m committed to the values of the Congress. My relationship with grassroots workers has seen me through four elections.”
Tharoor confirmed that he is currently in Kerala and has been encouraging voters to support the Congress candidate in Nilambur, whom he described as “a good candidate.”
Diplomatic Mission Fallout
Tharoor’s comments follow criticism from within the Congress for his remarks during the diplomatic tour, where he reportedly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy handling, while allegedly not acknowledging surgical strikes conducted under the UPA. These statements are believed to have irritated sections of the Congress leadership.
Despite the controversy, Tharoor maintained a conciliatory tone, choosing to deflect any insinuation of disunity and stressing internal resolution mechanisms.
His remarks indicate a desire to move past internal disagreements, while quietly signalling the lack of communication from party leadership as a reason for his non-involvement in the high-stakes Nilambur bypoll.
