Speculations regarding MP Shashi Tharoor parting ways with the Grand Old Party of India have been doing the rounds, prompting Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to intervene personally in order to pacify the matter. Sources within the AICC suggest that Priyanka reached out to the Thiruvananthapuram MP to address his growing frustrations and shut down talk of a back-channel deal with the CPM.
The high-level intervention followed a nudge from senior Kerala leader Ramesh Chennithala, who reportedly had a brief, urgent phone call with Tharoor on Sunday. While media reports have been swirling about the four-time MP weighing his options, Tharoor reportedly told Chennithala he has no immediate plans to quit. Still, the fact that Priyanka felt the need to call him directly shows how seriously the party is taking the threat, especially with Kerala Assembly elections just around the corner.
The friction seems to have peaked during a recent 'Mahapanchayat' in Kochi. Tharoor was visibly slighted when Rahul Gandhi, during his keynote address, acknowledged several leaders on the stage but notably left Tharoor’s name out. This perceived "erasure" apparently didn't sit well with the MP, leading him to skip a crucial high-command meeting on election preparedness shortly after. It’s no secret that Tharoor has long had a strained relationship with the state’s internal power circles, and this latest episode seems to have rubbed salt in the wound.
Adding fuel to the fire, Tharoor landed in Dubai this past weekend for a series of events. Rumours quickly spread that he was there to meet a prominent businessman who acts as a bridge to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. When cornered by reporters in Dubai about a possible political realignment, Tharoor remained tight-lipped, refusing to confirm or deny the speculation.
While the Congress leadership hasn't put out an official statement yet, the "Tharoor factor" is clearly causing jitters. The CPM has been looking for ways to break into new voter bases, and snagging a high-profile global face like Tharoor would be a massive coup. For now, Priyanka’s outreach seems to be an attempt to bring him back into the fold before the electoral damage becomes irreversible.
Also read: Growing chasm between Tharoor and Congress
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