Congress MP (LS) Shashi Tharoor appears to be preparing to quit the party. He reportedly stated in an interview that if his party does not require his services, he will have to look for another option. He maintains that the Congress has been facing one electoral debacle after another since the gains of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, the party cannot rely solely on committed party votes but must also join hands with others. He said the personal votes he receives prove his statement.
These views were expressed by Shashi Tharoor in a podcast with The New Indian Express, which is scheduled to air on Wednesday, 26 February.
If the Congress fails to appeal to non-committed voters, the party will once again have to sit on the opposition benches in Kerala. At the national level, the Congress vote share stands at 19%. This needs to increase to 26–27% for the party to return to power. Therefore, the party must reach out to those who did not support it in the last two elections.
Tharoor said that if his party does not need him, he has plenty of other things to do. He cited authoring books and delivering speeches, adding that he receives numerous invitations from around the world to speak.
Tharoor added that he speaks on matters of conviction and does not concern himself with the consequences. Therefore, he does not hesitate to praise the good deeds and actions of opposition parties. He also remarked that the Congress lacks leadership in Kerala and is failing to attract the youth.
The Congress MP stated that several opinion polls support his stance. He was indirectly suggesting that he is a suitable chief ministerial candidate. He asserted that his voters have given him the right to express his opinions. He has also reportedly mentioned that some constituents of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala are dissatisfied.
There are reports that Tharoor met Rahul Gandhi on 18 February. However, his latest remarks suggest that the meeting was not successful.
Recently, Shashi Tharoor stirred a hornets’ nest within his own party. His article, published in The New Indian Express on 14 February, was full of praise for the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan.
Here’s the link, for those who found the photo difficult to read: https://t.co/4cJGOE9IL2 https://t.co/9RCXIXjYSo
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 15, 2025
He highlighted the LDF regime’s achievements in fostering a positive startup ecosystem and introducing new industrial policies. He was indirectly suggesting that Kerala is industry-friendly. Immediately after, Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeev shared the article on social media, thanking the Congress MP for acknowledging the government’s achievements.
Tharoor had previously stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Donald Trump was a positive gesture.
Some Congress leaders in Kerala criticised Tharoor for glorifying the LDF, while others remained silent.
When he says that he has options if the Congress does not need him, it strongly implies that he is considering either the CPM or others. Undoubtedly, the storm Tharoor has unleashed has shaken the Congress’s apple cart in Kerala.
