Shashi Tharoor Expresses Displeasure with Congress Leadership Over Kochi Visit Snub

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is set to skip a key party meeting later today, citing dissatisfaction over a perceived lack of “due respect” during Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Kochi. The Kerala unit of the Congress, including Rahul Gandhi and Party Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, is scheduled to meet at 2:30 PM to discuss preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. However, Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, will not attend, highlighting growing tensions within the party.

A trained diplomat, Tharoor has faced increasing scrutiny from the Congress central leadership for comments that appear to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP. These remarks include endorsements of the PM’s handling of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and military strikes on Pakistan, along with other occasional critical statements in the media.

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Tensions escalated further on Thursday when Tharoor posted a selfie with former BJP MP and current India men’s cricket coach Gautam Gambhir, praising him for managing what he called “the second-hardest job in India, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

The BJP capitalised on the episode, with Shehzad Poonawalla drawing parallels between Tharoor’s comments about cricket fans second-guessing Gambhir and opposition members questioning the Prime Minister, claiming Tharoor’s remarks highlighted Congress prioritising family interests over national interests.

Poonawalla also predicted “one more Congress fatwa against Tharoor”, reflecting the ongoing friction between the MP and his party. This episode adds to the mounting strain between Tharoor and Congress leadership, raising questions about internal unity ahead of crucial electoral battles in Kerala.

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