Left Parties Eye Shashi Tharoor Amid Congress Alert in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Shashi Tharoor, known for his engaging political presence, is once again at the centre of attention in Kerala’s political circles. Reports suggest that left parties are making efforts to draw the seasoned Congress MP to their side, causing concern for the Congress high command.

Currently serving his fourth term as a Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor has kept a distance from controversies that could harm his electoral prospects. Earlier personal allegations and investigations before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections had troubled him, but he emerged unscathed, carving a niche recognised more for his intellectual acumen than political conspiracies within Congress.

Growing Speculation Around Tharoor’s Political Alignment

In recent weeks, speculation has intensified about Tharoor’s political stance, causing unease within Congress. His reportedly warm remarks towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at times perceived as too generous by party colleagues, fueled rumours about a possible shift to the BJP.

Adding fuel to the fire, political insiders in Kerala claim that Tharoor visited Dubai and met with a Middle Eastern businessman known to be close to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This has led to conjecture that the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the CPI (M), is attempting to bring Tharoor into their fold.

Such rumours hint that Vijayan may be prepared to offer political support to Tharoor, potentially weakening Congress in Kerala. Speculations even suggest that if Tharoor leaves Congress, the Left might back him to form a new party with support of up to 15 assembly seats, along with continued backing for his Lok Sabha candidacy from Thiruvananthapuram.

Congress High Command Responds to Rising Tensions

Though these claims remain unconfirmed, they have unsettled the Congress camp. LDF coordinator T.P. Ramakrishnan has neither denied nor fully confirmed discussions about Tharoor possibly joining CPI (M), stating that anyone aligned with left ideology is welcome.

The situation gained further complexity after an incident last week at a major political meeting in Kochi, where Rahul Gandhi reportedly refused to shake hands with Tharoor and did not acknowledge him by name. This event has been interpreted by political observers as part of CPI (M)’s strategy to lure Tharoor towards the Left.

In response, the Congress leadership appears to be taking swift steps to mitigate potential electoral damage. Reports indicate that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may personally reach out to Tharoor to address his concerns, reaffirm his importance to the party, and assure him of due respect and a significant political role.

Awaiting Tharoor’s Next Move

All eyes are now on whether Shashi Tharoor will participate in the critical Congress leadership meetings scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, aimed at preparing the roadmap for the upcoming assembly elections. His absence from a similar meeting last week deepened speculation, turning the political scenario into a suspenseful narrative dependent on the outcome of ongoing discussions.

The coming days will reveal if dialogue prevails over discord, determining whether Tharoor remains with Congress or moves towards the Left camp.