Tharoor Posts Photo with Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Fuels Speculation
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Synopsis
Tharoor's recent social media activity has sparked speculation about his future in Congress, especially after praising both PM Modi and Kerala CM Vijayan.
Key Takeaways
- Tharoor's photo with Goyal raises questions about his party loyalty.
- Rahul Gandhi intervened after backlash from Tharoor's remarks.
- Upcoming Congress meeting in Kerala is not solely about Tharoor.
- Tharoor's popularity remains high, but tensions with party leadership exist.
- Political observers believe Congress would lose significantly if Tharoor leaves.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 25 (NationPress) Shashi Tharoor, a four-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, has been making headlines recently due to his commendation of PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US and the governance of Kerala's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. On Tuesday, he stirred up new speculation by posting a photo with Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
In Kerala, both PM Modi and CM Vijayan are considered persona non grata for Tharoor's party. Following his praise, state leaders unleashed their criticism. Anticipating backlash, senior party figure Rahul Gandhi reached out to Tharoor, leading to a meeting in Delhi. However, an interview featuring Tharoor in a national publication only added fuel to the fire.
With reports emerging that the party's high command has summoned top leaders from Kerala, including Tharoor, for an upcoming meeting, speculation heightened once more. A prominent Congress leader clarified that the meeting's purpose is unrelated to Tharoor; rather, it focuses on strategizing for the forthcoming local body elections.
When approached by the media about his interview after meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor simply stated: 'This interview was given before the meeting' and departed. Shortly after, he shared a photo on X alongside a visiting British Minister and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Goyal.
He posted: 'Good to exchange words with Jonathan Reynolds, Britain’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in the company of his Indian counterpart, Commerce & Industry Minister @PiyushGoyal. The long-stalled FTA negotiations have been revived, which is most welcome.'
This post not only sparked speculation within the party but also among the general public regarding Tharoor's future with Congress.
There are whispers that Tharoor has felt disgruntled with the state unit of the party, particularly after receiving muted responses when he ran unsuccessfully for the Congress Presidency. Tensions have reportedly escalated since then.
During the lead-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, a colleague remarked that while many senior party members waited for days to meet the high command, 'a well-dressed man flew down from the US, was given a red carpet welcome at 10 Janpath, and walked out with a ticket to contest the 2009 Lok Sabha polls from Thiruvananthapuram.' That well-dressed man was Tharoor.
Interestingly, current Congress state President K. Sudhakaran, who debuted in the Lok Sabha alongside Tharoor, commented on Tharoor's oratory skills: 'We do not speak fluent English nor do we know much Hindi, but when Tharoor speaks in the Lok Sabha, the entire house listens intently.'
After 16 uninterrupted years, Tharoor's popularity continues to rise, although it appears not to resonate with his party colleagues in Kerala or Delhi, leading to reported discontent.
A political analyst noted that Tharoor is an asset to any party, yet the decision lies with him, emphasizing that Congress would suffer greatly should he choose to leave. 'The Congress party high command fears challenges, and they see Tharoor as one of them, hence the current uproar.'
