Is Shashi Tharoor Overstepping by Praising Vijayan?
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Synopsis
Shashi Tharoor, a four-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, faces backlash from party members after praising Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's governance. This has led to a rift within the party, despite receiving support from CPI-M and CM Vijayan. The situation has escalated, causing concern among national party leaders.
Key Takeaways
- Tharoor faces backlash in Congress for praising CM Vijayan.
- Party leadership in Kerala distances itself from him.
- Despite criticism, Tharoor remains steadfast in his views.
- Congress leaders attempt to mediate between factions.
- The rift raises concerns among national party leaders.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 24 (NationPress) Shashi Tharoor, a four-time Congress MP representing Thiruvananthapuram, is currently facing significant challenges within the party. Reports indicate his growing disillusionment after receiving backlash from various factions in Congress due to his commendation of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s governance in a prominent national publication.
Since that article, the majority of the party's leadership in Kerala has distanced themselves from Tharoor.
Nevertheless, he has garnered widespread appreciation from the CPI-M and CM Vijayan specifically.
Following the publication of Tharoor’s article, some party members reached out to Congress's higher-ups, resulting in a face-to-face meeting between Tharoor and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Delhi last week.
Despite that engagement, Tharoor remains steadfast in his viewpoint, which has further irritated top figures such as state party President K. Sudhakaran, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and former legislator Ramesh Chennithala.
On Sunday, Sudhakaran released a statement indicating that Tharoor is not inclined to back down.
Sudhakaran mentioned that despite multiple attempts to reach Tharoor, he has been unsuccessful.
Tharoor’s colleague in the Lok Sabha and General Secretary in charge of organization, K.C. Venugopal, who is attempting to ease tensions, stated on Monday that Congress does not marginalize those who voice dissent.
“Our party has consistently embraced criticism constructively; we are not a party that eliminates critics. In Kerala, we will progress as a unified entity,” Venugopal affirmed.
A media analyst, speaking under condition of anonymity, acknowledged Tharoor's distinctiveness, noting his four consecutive victories in Thiruvananthapuram showcase that constituents support him beyond political affiliations.
“The challenge he faces is that he has fewer allies in the local party, due to his less accessible demeanor.
“Consider this: a state party president admitting he struggles to connect with Tharoor—this speaks volumes. Tharoor seems to underestimate that Congress is the sole party granting extensive freedom to its leaders, yet he has perhaps overstepped,” the analyst remarked.
Meanwhile, even as leaders like Venugopal strive to de-escalate the situation, there is a pervasive sentiment among national party leaders that Tharoor has indeed taken on more than he can handle this time.
