The recent appearance of senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor at a key leadership event in Kerala has effectively quelled murmurs of discord within the party ranks. His participation and clarifying remarks painted a picture of unity, addressing concerns that had surfaced following some of his previous statements.
Tharoor's Firm Rebuttal at Sulthan Bathery Summit
Congress Working Committee member and Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor, attended the two-day Lakshya leadership summit held at Sulthan Bathery. During the event, he directly confronted the recent unease his remarks had generated among some party colleagues. Tharoor firmly asserted that he has never strayed from the official Congress position on core issues.
"The question is who said I deviated from the party line. I may have expressed my opinion on various issues, but on fundamental matters, there has been no change," Tharoor stated emphatically. He urged the party not to be troubled by the matter, pointing to his consistent parliamentary record as proof of his alignment.
Context Over Headlines: Tharoor Explains the Controversy
Addressing the root of the controversy, which included perceived praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor argued that the issue stemmed from reactions to headlines rather than a full reading of his texts. He revealed that when he asked critics if they had read his complete writings, they admitted they had not. "Once they did, they understood the context and now the issue has faded," he explained.
On the specific charge of praising PM Modi, Tharoor offered a clarification. He said he had merely written two lines commenting on a speech delivered by the Prime Minister at an event which he too had attended. This, he implied, was taken out of proportion.
Pledge for Upcoming Electoral Battle
In a significant move to reinforce his commitment, Shashi Tharoor declared that he would campaign actively for the UDF (United Democratic Front) in the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala. This pledge serves as a concrete demonstration of his loyalty to the party coalition and aims to solidify the front's campaign efforts.
His arguments and assurances at the leadership summit have eased lingering concerns, contributing to a renewed sense of cohesion within the Congress party in Kerala as it prepares for future political challenges.
