Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has once again sparked political buzz by staying away from an important meeting of the party’s top leadership in Delhi. His absence has fueled talk of growing unease between him and the Congress leadership at a crucial time, with major elections approaching.
According to people aware of the developments, Tharoor chose not to attend the meeting after feeling ignored and uncomfortable during a recent Congress event in Kerala. The event, held in Kochi, was a large party gathering where Rahul Gandhi addressed party workers and leaders. What happened there appears to have left Tharoor unhappy and frustrated.
At the Kochi programme, Tharoor, who is a member of the Congress Working Committee, was reportedly given a less prominent place on the stage. Many within the party felt this did not match his seniority or national standing. Tharoor himself is believed to have noticed the gesture, and his supporters saw it as a sign that he was being sidelined.
There were also issues related to speeches at the event. Tharoor was reportedly told in advance that only Rahul Gandhi would deliver a long address, while others were expected to keep their remarks short. Based on this, he prepared a brief speech. However, when several other leaders spoke at length, it added to his disappointment. Matters worsened when Rahul Gandhi named multiple leaders during his speech but did not mention Tharoor, something that reportedly hurt the Thiruvananthapuram MP.
Soon after, the Congress leadership sent out a strong message on party discipline. Senior leaders met in Delhi and made it clear that internal issues should not be discussed publicly. Leaders were told to avoid speaking to the media or posting on social media about internal differences and instead raise concerns only within party forums.
While the Congress is trying hard to show unity and focus on election preparations, Tharoor’s decision to skip the high-level meeting has raised questions. It suggests that all is not well within the party’s ranks.
