New Delhi – Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has been at the center of controversy over his opinion article in The New Indian Express, is expected to remain silent during a key meeting on Friday with Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The meeting, which will involve top Congress leaders from Kerala, is primarily aimed at strategizing for the upcoming local body elections.
Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, has reportedly decided to avoid further confrontation until the elections, which Congress sees as a crucial opportunity for revival in the state. According to sources close to Tharoor, even if the issue is raised during the meeting, he does not intend to voice any complaints. Instead, he has resolved to focus on party activities until the elections conclude.
Internal Party Discord
The controversy erupted after Tharoor’s article publicly criticized the leadership vacuum within the Congress’ Kerala unit and projected himself as the party’s key face ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. His remarks created unrest within the state leadership, prompting Lok Sabha MP K Raghavan, a Tharoor supporter, to meet Congress’ Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
According to insiders, Raghavan urged Dasmunshi to temper the party’s criticism of Tharoor and foster unity within the Kerala leadership. Prior to meeting Dasmunshi, Raghavan reportedly also held discussions with Tharoor at his residence.
Party’s Response to Tharoor’s Remarks
Tharoor’s public remarks about having “other options” if Congress did not want his services further fueled speculation about his political future. However, when asked about a potential switch to the BJP, he dismissed the idea, stating, “No, every party has its own beliefs and history. Joining another party if you don’t share their ideals is not right, in my opinion.”
Congress leaders Kodikunnil Suresh, Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Congress president K Sudhakaran, and Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan are also expected to attend Friday’s meeting as members of the Congress Working Committee. This will be Tharoor’s second interaction with the central leadership following the controversy. Last week, Rahul Gandhi reportedly invited him for a private discussion, though Tharoor declined to disclose details of the conversation.
Dismissing claims of discord with the party, Tharoor addressed the media on Wednesday, saying, “You all heard the podcast—what was the controversy about?” He explained that the podcast was a 45-minute discussion on life and happiness, with no connection to politics.
With Congress already struggling with internal factionalism in Kerala, the upcoming local body elections will be a crucial test for the party’s unity and electoral prospects. Whether the leadership can smooth over internal differences remains to be seen.
