New Delhi (India), February 23: Amid mounting criticism within Congress following his praise for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s industrial policy in Kerala and comments regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor declined to comment further on the issue.
At New Delhi airport on Sunday, Tharoor, when approached by reporters, simply responded, “No comments at all,” and shifted focus by suggesting reporters watch the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan, which had just begun in Dubai.
Earlier, Tharoor had posted a quote by poet Thomas Gray on his social media account, which many speculated was related to his current political situation. In a recent interview with a Malayalam podcast, Tharoor emphasized the need for the Congress party to expand its appeal, warning that without this, it would face another defeat in the 2026 Kerala assembly elections. He mentioned that there was a perception within the party that Kerala Congress lacked strong leadership.
Tharoor, who has been elected as MP from Thiruvananthapuram four times, made it clear that if Congress no longer required his services, he had other options, including engaging in speaking tours and writing books.
The controversy began after Tharoor wrote an article praising the LDF government’s handling of Kerala’s economy, particularly the state’s progress in fostering a start-up ecosystem. This drew criticism from his party colleagues in Kerala, who felt his remarks undermined the Congress’s stance. Tharoor later clarified that his article did not intend to offer a comprehensive analysis of Kerala’s economy but specifically highlighted the growth in the start-up sector—a continuation of initiatives initiated by former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Reacting to the ongoing controversy, Congress leader K Muraleedharan stated that Tharoor’s views did not reflect the stance of the party in Kerala, while CPM State Secretary MV Govindan commended Tharoor for accurately portraying Kerala’s industrial growth. BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, on the other hand, criticized both the UDF and LDF in Kerala for what he called a “mock fight,” accusing them of deceiving voters.
As tensions continue to rise within the Congress, Tharoor’s position in the party remains uncertain as he faces backlash for his remarks, which some feel have undermined the party’s unity in Kerala.