Congress’s Thiruvananthapuram MP was not invited to campaign for the Nilambur bypoll in Kerala by his party
Downplaying the prevailing tensions between him and his party, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today admitted to “some differences” of opinion which he said he will discuss when someone from the party approaches him.
Notably, Congress’ Thiruvananthapuram MP was conspicuous by absence from the campaign trail in Nilambur while senior party leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, drummed up support for their candidate. When asked by media persons, Tharoor said: “I wasn’t invited to the party. But that’s alright”.
“I have been working in Congress for the past 16 years. I have some differences of opinion with the party, and I will discuss them inside the party…Today I don’t want to speak about it. I need to meet and talk, let the time come, and I will discuss it,” the Congress MP was quoted as saying.
Tensions have been visible between Tharoor and Congress for a long time, but what seems to have really upset the party this time were his remarks on the 2016 surgical strikes.
Tharoor, who was a part of the all-party delegations sent by the Narendra Modi government to convey India’s view point on Operation Sindoor in foreign countries, upset the leadership for showing support for the BJP-led Centre’s military actions across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
His total support to the BJP-led Centre was seen as straying from the party line and he was openly checked by colleagues like Pawan Khera and Udit Raj, who also called him a “super spokesperson of the BJP”.
Senior Congress leaders, including Manish Tiwari and Anand Sharma were also a part of the all-party delegations, but Tharoor drew a much bigger traction, attention and appreciation in international, national and diplomatic circles during the tour with his statements.
