Kochi: On Thursday, Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of Kerala's former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, extended an invitation to Shashi Tharoor to join the BJP.
She alleged that Shashi Tharoor is aware of his marginalisation within the Congress party and is therefore welcome to join the BJP and pointed out that Tharoor would often miss party meetings, citing that he never received invitations, which she believes is a clear indication of him being sidelined by the party.
“I have always felt and seen how Tharoor was sidelined by the party. All what I said when I left Congress has just been repeated by Tharoor in the past few days. There is no future for him in the Congress party. I decided to leave the Congress party not for any posts or positions, but for peace of mind, which I now have. Nothing is going to happen in the state Congress leaders meeting in Delhi (Tharoor also is invited) called by the high command,” added Padmaja.
Shashi Tharoor has been in the spotlight recently due to his praise for PM Modi and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a newspaper article, which drew criticism from top state party leaders.
Shashi Tharoor has denied any plans to join the BJP, following a closed-door meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Speculation is swirling that Shashi Tharoor may be appointed Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha. But no official confirmation has been made.
Padmaja quit the Congress party after Anil Antony, son of AK Antony, joined the party and was given the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat, while she was denied one.
(inputs from IANS)