Congress leader Shashi Tharoor blasted the CPI on Tuesday, claiming it is ironic that the Left is "playing the BJP's game" in Thiruvananthapuram while complaining about Rahul Gandhi's candidature in Wayanad.
In a post on X, Tharoor said, "It's ironic that the same @cpofindia that complains about @RahulGandhi's candidature in Wayanad is playing the BJP's game in Thiruvananthapuram."
The CPI general secretary, D Raja, stated last week that the Congress has authority over the choice to field Gandhi from Wayanad, Kerala. However, public sentiment suggests that a leader of his calibre should have contested from a constituency where he could directly confront the BJP, whose ideology he opposes.
"The only effect of the CPI's campaign against me in Thiruvananthapuram is to divide the anti-BJP vote. And they preach alliance dharma in Wayanad!" Shashi Tharoor said
Tharoor, who has represented Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha for the past 15 years, is aiming for a record of fourth term.
He is contesting against the BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as well as Electronics and Information Technology. The CPI has fielded Pannian Raveendran for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat.
[With inputs from PTI]