Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s warm exchange with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Thiruvananthapuram airport on Thursday night has set tongues wagging. Tharoor, racing against time after delays at Delhi airport, made it just in time to welcome Modi, who arrived to commission the transformative Vizhinjam port on Friday.

The duo’s prolonged handshake and animated conversation, captured widely, underscored a surprising camaraderie, fueling speculation about Tharoor’s political leanings.

Tharoor, a three-term Thiruvananthapuram MP, took to X, expressing pride in Vizhinjam, a project he’s championed since its inception. “Managed to land in time to receive PM Modi… Looking forward to his commissioning Vizhinjam port,” he posted.

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This public warmth follows Tharoor’s recent pro-BJP gestures, including praising Modi’s foreign policy in a December 2024 speech and backing the government’s stance on the Adani controversy, urging focus on national interests over partisan attacks. His November 2024 commendation of BJP’s Swachh Bharat campaign further raised eyebrows within Congress.

The Vizhinjam port, set to position Kerala as a global shipping hub, marks Modi’s first 2025 Kerala visit.

Tharoor’s visible role in the event, coupled with his recent BJP-friendly remarks, has sparked questions: Is the articulate Congressman eyeing a switch to the saffron camp? While Tharoor remains a Congress stalwart, his calculated outreach to Modi suggests a pragmatic streak.

As political circles buzz, all eyes are on whether this bonhomie hints at a deeper realignment.

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