Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally dedicated the Vizhinjam International Seaport to the nation on Friday, marking a historic moment for Bharat’s maritime infrastructure. Touted as a project of national pride, the deep-water port is expected to play a pivotal role in bolstering the country’s economic growth and enhancing its strategic maritime capabilities. However, the high-profile inauguration was not without political drama. The event exposed significant divisions within the Congress party, highlighting internal disagreements and raising questions about the party’s organisational coherence in Kerala.
Tharoor’s Modi Moment Deepens Congress Rifts as PM Delivers Stinging Blow to INDI Alliance
Notably, while senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor shared the stage with Prime Minister Modi throughout the event, Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and the Congress party officially abstained. Initially, Satheesan cited a lack of invitation as his reason for not attending. However, even after receiving an invitation from the state government, he chose to stay away, claiming he had not been allotted speaking time at the event. Ironically, a seat had been reserved for him at the venue. Tharoor’s prominent presence and closeness with the Prime Minister were interpreted by many as a deviation from the Congress party’s official stance, especially significant given the strong criticism of the Adani Group and Prime Minister Modi by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Modi alluded to this internal friction in Congress and the INDI Alliance in his speech, stating: “I want to tell Chief Minister [Pinarayi Vijayan], you are a strong pillar of the INDIA alliance, Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Today’s event is going to disturb the sleep of many.”The participation of both CPI(M) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in the inauguration, while Rahul Gandhi continues to criticise Adani and Prime Minister Modi, highlights the ideological and strategic contradictions within the Congress party and the broader I.N.D.I.Alliance. Reflecting on this shift, Modi referred to a statement made by Kerala Minister V.N. Vasavan, who had described Adani as a “partner.” Modi remarked, “A statement like that, acknowledging the private sector as a partner of the government, coming from a Communist government minister… that reflects the new face of a changing Bharat.”
Tharoor’s Recent Stances Fuel Speculation About His Future in Congress
Shashi Tharoor’s recent statements have sparked controversy within Congress, as his views increasingly appear to diverge from the party’s official positions, leading to speculation about his future within the party. Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which resulted in 26 fatalities, Tharoor acknowledged the security lapses but argued that no country could have a foolproof intelligence system, drawing a parallel to Israel’s failure during the October 2023 Hamas assault. This remark was met with criticism from within Congress, including Kerala Unit and Udit Raj, who accused Tharoor of indirectly defending the BJP government’s handling of security. Tharoor has also expressed concerns about caste-based policies, warning that while caste data could be useful, relying solely on caste as the basis for policymaking could lead to national-level problems. This stance is at odds with certain factions within Congress who advocate for caste-based entitlements. Moreover, in a podcast interview, Tharoor suggested that if Congress no longer needed his services, he had “other options” such as writing and public speaking. Taken together, Tharoor’s recent opinions appear to be increasingly at odds with the Congress leadership, raising questions about his future within the party and whether he is preparing for a political shift.
Leadership Race in Kerala Intensifies in a Fractured Congress
Amid this backdrop, the Congress’s Kerala unit is already witnessing an intense internal contest over the Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2026 Assembly elections. While the Indian Union Muslim League, a key UDF ally, has shown interest in the post, several Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, former Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, KPCC President K. Sudhakaran, current Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, and Shashi Tharoor, are seen as contenders. However, Tharoor’s strained ties with the Nehru family, after he contested against Mallikarjun Kharge in the Congress presidential race, may weigh against his prospects. In response to criticism, V.D. Satheesan evoked the legacy of the late Oommen Chandy, former Chief Minister and Congress Group A leader, saying, “Oommen Chandy lives in the hearts of the people as history that cannot be erased even if erased.” Reacting to the developments, former BJP state president K. Surendran said that Prime Minister Modi had sent “a clear message to those staging protests against development and practising double standards,” suggesting that the “INDI Alliance in Kerala is on the verge of collapse”.
