New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP from Kerala’s capital, Shashi Tharoor, has sent the party in Delhi and the state into a tailspin warning the Grand Old Party that “if the party does not want my services, I have other options”.
Tharoor made his stand clear and opened himself out in a frank interview given to The Indian Express in Delhi.
He also reportedly said the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s most important decision-making body, is just a talking room while “decisions are made elsewhere.”
“If the party wants to use me, I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do. Don’t think I have no other choice,” he said.
This statement was immediately latched on to by the CPM in Kerala which said Tharoor will not be left a political orphan. “We will welcome him,” said senior party leaders. CPM state general secretary MV Govindan said the party will always leave a door open for Tharoor.
Tharoor also reportedly said he was ready to lead Kerala if the party asked him. The party in Kerala is facing a leadership crisis. If it does not work hard, it will face a third setback in Kerala. Tharoor openly stated that the constituent parties are not satisfied and that there is a possibility of a setback at the national level as well.
He pointed out that in independent opinion polls, he is leading in the Jana Sammithi in Kerala. “If the party needs it, it can use this public support. If the party wants to use me, I am always ready. I will not leave the party because of disagreements. I got more votes in the Thiruvananthapuram contest than the party support”.
These statements left the old guards in Kerala, which has numerous CM aspirants, livid. “Let Tharoor play his politics in Delhi. There is no vacancy in Kerala. The state is too small a playground for his brand of politics,” a senior leader was quoted in the media.
Reiterating that he was no ordinary politician, he said when a government does good things, it is appreciated and when it does wrong things, it is criticized. I have not seen a bad reaction from the people to my comments (on a good certificate to the LDF government in Kerala). But the same reaction is not there in the (Cong) party. They ask me why you say good things about our opponents. Yes, they are our opponents, but when they do good things, they should be appreciated.
“I have never had narrow political thoughts, I have never thought about the political implications before expressing an opinion on something I am convinced of. This is why I appreciate the good initiatives of governments or parties that are rivals to the Congress,” he said in the interview.
The interview took place before his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, after which the Congress leadership had indicated that there will be no further talks with Tharoor.
On Sunday, Tharoor refused to react to his controversial interview. “I shall speak to you when I have something to say. Now I have nothing to say,” he told the media in Delhi.
Tharoor’s further moves are being closely watched in Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram. While senior party leaders in Kerala want strict action against him, young leaders across the political spectrum have only appreciation for the outspoken Tharoor.
Tharoor had pointed out earlier that there was a war brewing against him in the state Congress. “I am aware of it,” he had earlier said without indicating where he is heading to.
