New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has reportedly said that he has ‘options’ if his party does not need his service , giving rise to speculations that he will take some bombshell political decision.
The Congress MP for Thiruvananthapuram told The Indian Express that the party needed to expand its base to draw in new voters, while pointing to the ‘absence of a leader in Kerala’s Congress’.
Tharoor has been in the vortex of a controversy over praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government recently.
Responding to the controversy Throor said ‘I don’t think like a politician. I have never had narrow political thoughts.’
Thiruvananthapuram MP further defended his stand saying that his winning from the constituency for four times showed that people supported his right to express his views independently on development of the state and country.
Speaking to the outlet’s weekly Malayalam language podcast, he made it clear that the Congress gained around 19% at the national level, adding ‘Only if we get 26-27% additional can we come to power’.
Giving a warning to the state leadership, Tharoor said that unless the congress tries to expand its appeal the party would be sitting in the opposition for the third consecutive time in the state.
Ramming home the importance the party expanding beyond its committed voter base, he said: ‘My appeal in Thiruvananthapuram is much more than what the party enjoys. People like the way I talk and behave. Even those who are generally against the Congress voted for me. That’s what we want in 2026.’
Claiming that independent opinion polls have placed him ahead of others in leadership roles in Kerala, Tharoor said: ‘If the party wants to use that, I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do. You should not think that I have no other option. I have my books, speeches, invitations from across the world to give a talk’.
Tharoor denied rumours that he would be crossing over to other parties, reportedly saying ‘I don’t think it will be the right thing to do. One has the freedom to be outside the party, stay as an independent.’