Shashi Tharoor Admits “Differences with Congress Leadership”; Cites Non-Invitation to Nilambur Campaign

Shashi Tharoor Admits “Differences with Congress Leadership”: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday conceded that he has differences with certain members of the party leadership, but refused to enumerate them in public before the Nilambur assembly bypoll in Kerala.

“Though I was on the international delegation, I didn’t receive any calls even after my return. So I moved forward with my other activities,” he said.

Tharoor asserted his loyalty to the Congress, its values, and its party workers. "I have been associated with the Congress party for the last 16 years. The party, its values, and its workers are close to my heart. I consider them as friends and brothers," he said, as reported by a news agency.

Tharoor, however, conceded that all is not well in the leadership of the party. "I do have differences of opinion with some in the Congress leadership. You know what I am referring to, as some of those issues are public and have been reported by you," he said in the media.

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The Congress Working Committee (CWC) member said he has certain differences of opinion with some in the party leadership. Tharoor, however added that he would not talk about such issues in view of the bypoll in Nilambur constituency.

Tharoor said he was not invited for the Nilambur campaign as was the practice during the other byelections, including the one in Wayanad held in 2024.

When asked why he was not part of the bypoll campaign, Tharoor said he was not invited for it as was the practice during the other byelections, including the one in Wayanad held last year.

"I do not go where I am not invited," the senior Congress leader said, but added that he wants the party workers' campaign efforts to bear fruit and the UDF candidate to win from Nilambur.

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Regarding his recent talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor said it was regarding the delegations' visits to various countries in connection with Operation Sindoor and the discussions held there.

"No domestic politics were discussed," he said.

Defending his decision to accept the Centre's invite to head one of the delegations, he said that when he became the chairman of the External Affairs Committee of the Parliament, he had made it clear that he was focused on India's foreign policy and its national interest and not the foreign policy of the Congress and BJP.

"I have not changed my line. When an issue concerning the nation comes up, we are all obligated to work and speak for the country. What I said during Operation Sindoor was my own opinion.

"The Centre asked for my services. Indeed, my party did not. So, I proudly did my duty as an Indian citizen," he said.

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