Shashi Tharoor’s decision to give a miss to a key Congress meet over Kerala election preparedness ignited a buzz that the MP was upset over lack of due respect amist Rahul Gandhi’s event.
However, sources claimed that he had taken high command’s permission to skip the meet.
Reportedly, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday gave a miss to the meeting convened by the Congress high command in Delhi to discuss the party’s preparations for the Kerala Assembly elections. Tharoor’s absence ignitted a buzz he was upset with Rahul Gandhi over lack of respect. However, Congress sources later said that Tharoor had sought high command’s permission to skip the meeting to stay in Kerala for PM’s event.
Tharoor wanted to be present in his constituency, Thiruvananthapuram, where Prime Minister Modi held a road show and a rally on Friday, As per Congress sources said.
Earlier, sources revealed that he gave a miss to the Delhi meeting as he felt “insulted” at a Mahapanchayat event in Kochi, where party MP Rahul Gandhi was also present. They indicated that he is currently upset with both the state and central leadership of the Congress, which has contributed to his decision not to attend the meeting.
Reportedly Tharoor conveyed his disappointment to close associates, expressing that the incident reflects a broader pattern of disregard for his contributions within the party.
At the Kochi event, issues arose with the seating and speaking schedule. Tharoor was reportedly told that only Rahul Gandhi would speak after him, but later other leaders spoke as well. The confusion over the arrangements was seen as a public slight, particularly given Tharoor’s seniority in the Congress.
Regardless the initial instruction, several other party leaders addressed the event after Rahul Gandhi’s arrival. This deviation from the established plan reportedly added to Tharoor’s dissatisfaction, especially considering the perceived breach of protocol regarding the order of speakers.
The incident has sparked discussions among party cadres about internal discipline and respect for senior leaders. During his speech at the Mahapanchayat, Rahul Gandhi did not mention Tharoor by name. Observers noted that this omission was notable given Tharoor’s prominence within the party and the state. The lack of acknowledgement contributed to the overall sense of dissatisfaction expressed by Tharoor, the sources said.
The Congress party has not issued an official statement in response to Tharoor’s reported discomfort or his decision to skip the Kerala elections meeting. But party sources later said that Tharoor had obtained due permission from the party high command to skip the meeting so that he could be present in his constituency for PM’s event.
News Edit KV Raman
