Tharoor : Dismisses Rift Talk After Meeting Congress Leadership in Parliament
Tharoor : Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday sought to put an end to speculation about internal discord after holding an extended discussion with the party’s top leadership in New Delhi. The meeting followed his absence from a key organisational gathering in Kerala last week, which had prompted questions about his relationship with the party ahead of the state’s upcoming Assembly elections.
Extended Discussion With Party Leadership
Tharoor met Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at Kharge’s Parliament office. The interaction lasted nearly two hours and, according to Tharoor, covered a wide range of issues in a constructive manner.
Speaking to news agency ANI, the Thiruvananthapuram MP described the talks as positive and forward-looking. He underlined that there was no lingering disagreement and stressed that the leadership was aligned on future priorities.
Tharoor Reaffirms Commitment to Congress
Addressing questions about his political standing within the party, Tharoor said he has consistently supported the Congress and played an active role during election campaigns across the country. He rejected suggestions that his recent actions signalled any distancing from the organisation.
According to Tharoor, his record of campaigning and public outreach speaks for itself. He said the discussion with the leadership reaffirmed mutual trust and underscored a shared commitment to work together in the interests of the party and the public.
No Interest in State Leadership Role
With Kerala expected to head into Assembly elections later this year, speculation has also swirled around potential chief ministerial contenders. Tharoor clarified that this topic did not come up during Thursday’s meeting and said he has no desire to seek a new role at the state level.
He explained that his current responsibilities as a Member of Parliament remain his priority. Representing the people of Thiruvananthapuram in Parliament, he said, requires his full attention, and he intends to continue focusing on legislative work and national issues.
Public Message After the Meeting
Following the discussion, Tharoor took to social media to thank both Gandhi and Kharge for what he described as a warm and constructive exchange. In his post, he emphasised unity within the party and said the leadership was moving ahead with a common purpose centred on public service.
The message was widely viewed as an attempt to counter narratives suggesting growing internal friction within the Congress ranks.
Explanation for Missed Kerala Meeting
The immediate trigger for the recent speculation was Tharoor’s absence from an All India Congress Committee meeting in Kerala that focused on preparations for the Assembly polls. Tharoor has maintained that his absence was communicated in advance to party leaders.
He said he was unable to attend due to prior commitments at the Kerala Literature Festival, where he was scheduled to speak about his latest book on Sree Narayana Guru. The meeting had already been postponed once, making it difficult for him to adjust his schedule, he added.
Earlier Remarks on Internal Concerns
In late January, Tharoor had acknowledged that there were certain issues he wished to discuss with the party leadership, while making it clear that he did not intend to air them publicly. Those remarks came shortly after a Congress event in Kochi where his presence on stage reportedly went unacknowledged during Gandhi’s address.
While some reports suggested that Tharoor felt slighted during the event, the party leadership dismissed claims of any internal dispute, reiterating that scheduling constraints were the primary reason behind subsequent misunderstandings.