Kerala Congress dismisses rift rumors with Shashi Tharoor amid Controversy
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The Kerala Congress has firmly denied any internal divisions following the recent controversy surrounding Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor's remarks about the state's CPI(M)-led government.
Party leaders emphasised unity and dismissed speculation of discord, reaffirming their commitment to the upcoming Assembly elections.
Congress' Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi, speaking with Tharoor by her side, made the party’s stance clear after a crucial meeting on Friday. Addressing the media, she stated, "There is no confusion. Shashi Tharoor has already clarified his statement. The Congress party stands united, and action will be taken against anyone who crosses party lines or makes statements that contradict the party’s position."
The meeting, which lasted nearly three hours, was attended by senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and KC Venugopal. Kerala Congress chief K. Sudhakaran and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala also participated. The discussions focused on political strategy for the state and preparations for the 2026 elections.
Following the meeting, Kharge took to social media to share updates, stating, "Change is inevitable in Kerala. Congress has built the state's development model, and we will do everything to bring the United Democratic Front (UDF) to power. The people will reject both oppressive and communal fronts in the state."
The controversy erupted after Tharoor's words were interpreted as praising the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government’s efforts in certain sectors in a newspaper article. Additionally, he had earlier commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, citing positive diplomatic outcomes, which drew criticism from within the Congress.
Responding to the backlash, Tharoor clarified that his remarks on Kerala’s startup sector were meant to highlight a transformation initiated by former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. "As a Congress worker, I take pride in acknowledging that it was Chandy's government that planted the seeds for this progress," he stated.