‘Have Disagreements With Leadership’: Tharoor Says Congress Didn’t Invite Him to Campaign in Nilambur
Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday openly acknowledged having “disagreements” with the party’s leadership and revealed he was not invited to campaign for the crucial Assembly byelection in Kerala’s Nilambur constituency, where polling is currently underway.
His comments, made on the day of the high-stakes vote, have once again highlighted the friction within the state unit of the party.
“As you know, I have disagreements with the current Congress leadership. Some of them are in the public domain, so you know them,” Tharoor told reporters. He then directly addressed his absence from the campaign trail, stating he did not campaign for the Congress candidate “because he did not get the invitation from the party for the same.”
However, Tharoor tempered his remarks by expressing his loyalty to the party’s core. “Congress party, its values, and its workers are dear to me. I have been working with them for the past 16 years, and I have seen their commitment, dedication and idealism,” he added.
When asked whether his differences were with the party’s central high command or the state leadership, the Thiruvananthapuram MP evaded a direct answer, citing the ongoing polling. “…Today is not the time to talk about those issues as the polling is ongoing, where I wish to see my friend (Congress candidate) Aryadan Shoukath win it,” he said.
Tharoor also extended his best wishes to the party’s candidate and workers. “Our Congress workers worked hard and honestly there in Nilambur. We have an excellent candidate. I wish to see the result of their work,” he said.
The Nilambur bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of two-time Left Democratic Front (LDF) backed independent legislator PV Anvar, who later joined the Trinamool Congress after a falling out with the ruling LDF alliance. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has fielded Aryadan Shoukhath, son of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed.
Shoukhath, meanwhile, expressed confidence in winning the seat, citing the state government’s “total neglect of the Nilambur area.” He pointed to the lack of rehabilitation for tribals and the increasing human-animal conflict as key local issues.
