Kozhikode, Jan 24 (NationPress) Senior Congress figure and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday attempted to dispel rumors regarding his absence from an important meeting of Kerala Congress leaders organized by the party's high command in Delhi on Friday. He emphasized that his choice to skip the meeting bore no political implications and that he had already communicated any concerns internally.

His non-attendance at the meeting, led by the central party leadership in light of the forthcoming Assembly elections, sparked considerable media speculation.

Various reports attempted to connect his absence to perceived dissatisfaction over his treatment during a recent party gathering in Kochi, which was attended by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

This narrative quickly escalated into discussions of potential internal strife within the Congress's Kerala unit.

Addressing these assertions while speaking with reporters on Saturday, Tharoor firmly declined to address any internal disagreements in public.

“I have communicated everything I needed to say to the party leadership. It is inappropriate for me to discuss this publicly,” he asserted, emphasizing that dialogues within Congress should remain within party circles.

He acknowledged the inevitability of media reports but urged caution against overanalyzing them.

“The media may report various things. Some might hold truth, while others may not,” Tharoor stated, refraining from confirming or denying any discontent regarding recent party developments.

Regarding his absence from the Delhi meeting, Tharoor explained that he had notified party leadership well in advance about his inability to attend.

He cited logistical challenges and prior obligations, clarifying that it was impractical to cancel his engagements or travel back from Delhi to Kozhikode in the limited time available.

“I had already informed the leadership earlier that I wouldn’t attend. It is not feasible to cancel this, and returning from Delhi to Kozhikode is not easy,” he stated.

Tharoor further explained that his presence in Kozhikode was related to the launch of his latest book at a literary festival, an event he was eager to attend.

Reflecting on having previously missed the Jaipur Literature Festival due to political commitments, he expressed his desire not to miss another significant engagement.

“I had to miss the Jaipur Literary Fest once for political programs. I didn’t want to miss this literary fest as well, which is why I came here,” he clarified.

Reaffirming his position, Tharoor insisted that any issues he wished to raise would be discussed within the party. “What I had to say, I will communicate inside the party,” he reiterated, firmly closing the door on public speculation.

CWC member and senior legislator Ramesh Chennithala noted that Tharoor, unlike others, is not only a politician but also a prominent literary figure, suggesting that this should be considered in the context of the situation.