There are rumours that Shashi Tharoor is having issues with Congress because he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the LDF government in Kerala. However, Tharoor has made it clear that he is still with Congress. He said he is available for the party but also mentioned that he has “options” if the party does not need him. At the same time, he denied any plans of leaving Congress, saying he does not believe in “jumping ships” even if he has different opinions.

Praise for Modi and Kerala government sparks controversy

The controversy began after Tharoor praised the Kerala government’s policies and PM Modi’s meeting with former US President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. His remarks did not sit well with Congress leaders, who saw them as going against the party’s stance.

Reacting to the criticism, Tharoor said that he does not consider himself a typical politician and follows “narrow political thoughts.” He stressed that Congress needs to expand its base in Kerala to attract new voters. He also pointed out that the party lacks a strong leader in the state, a view he claims is shared by many Congress members.

Shashi Tharoor referred to opinion polls by independent groups and said that these surveys ranked him as one of the top political leaders in Kerala. He also warned that if Congress does not work to attract more supporters, it might stay in the opposition for the third time in a row. Kerala's Assembly elections are set to take place next year.

Meeting with Rahul Gandhi

On February 18, Tharoor met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. After the meeting, he described their half-hour discussion as “very good” and said he was able to communicate key issues. However, when asked for details, he refused to share specifics, stating that the conversation was private and one-on-one. He also clarified that their discussion did not include upcoming elections or leadership roles in Kerala.

Rahul Gandhi had invited Tharoor for this meeting following the controversy over his article praising the LDF government for promoting entrepreneurship. This article was strongly opposed by Congress leaders in Kerala and other opposition figures.

Meanwhile, when asked by the media about his reported rift with Congress, Tharoor dodged the question, telling reporters, “No comments at all. Go watch the match. It’s an important match today,” referring to the India vs. Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy contest.

You might also be interested in: Who is Friedrich Merz? the man set to lead Germany as Chancellor