Tharoor’s Ambitions Stir Unease within Kerala Congress
Shashi Tharoor’s aspirations are causing ripples within the Congress party in Kerala, as his rising national profile and strained relations with the state unit fuel concerns about his place within the party. Despite being a member of the Congress for over 15 years, Tharoor’s approach to politics has often been at odds with Kerala’s entrenched Congress factions, leaving him on the periphery of internal party dynamics. Recent developments, including his inclusion in the Union government’s diplomatic outreach team following Operation Sindoor, have intensified the unease surrounding his position within the party.
A Cautious Stance from Kerala’s Leadership
The Kerala Congress leadership has shown increasing discomfort with Tharoor’s political trajectory. While Opposition Leader VD Satheesan tactfully stated that the party high command will make decisions regarding Tharoor’s involvement, the underlying message is clear: Tharoor’s interactions with the ruling dispensation, including his recent role in diplomatic missions, are raising alarm bells within the Kerala unit.
Tharoor, often seen as a solitary figure in Kerala politics, has never fully aligned with any of the dominant factions in the state—be it the Sudhakaran-Muraleedharan bloc, the Satheesan-led camp, or the group of veterans once close to late Oommen Chandy. His lack of deep ties to the grassroots and focus on intellectual and parliamentary work has set him apart, making him an outsider in Kerala’s deeply factionalized political landscape.
The Rise of Tharoor on the National Stage
While Tharoor may be at odds with the Kerala Congress, his national stature has been steadily growing. His decision to challenge the Congress presidential election in 2022—something no leader had done in years—marked a significant moment in his political career. Although he did not win, the move earned him a seat on the Congress Working Committee (CWC), a key decision-making body.
Despite his increasing prominence on the national stage, Tharoor’s growing alignment with the Union government, especially during events like the inauguration of the Vizhinjam port, has put him in direct conflict with party loyalists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks mocking Tharoor’s association with both the Congress and the Kerala government further escalated tensions. This only deepened the divide between Tharoor and those within Congress who feel his growing acceptability in some circles undermines the party’s cohesion.
Tharoor’s Marginalisation Within Congress
Tharoor’s political conduct, particularly his civility towards adversaries, has made him increasingly alienated within the Kerala Congress. His diplomatic gestures toward the BJP and his occasional cordiality with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have fueled suspicions among party colleagues. The fallout from Operation Sindoor, where Tharoor refrained from directly criticizing the BJP-led government’s narrative, was seen as a tacit endorsement of the ruling party’s stance.
As Tharoor’s political future continues to unfold, many in Kerala Congress fear that he may be quietly marginalized, especially as Congress seeks a more combative approach to the growing BJP influence. This divide has led some observers to question whether Tharoor’s distance from Kerala’s political machinery will become an obstacle to his future ambitions within the party.
The Future: Will Tharoor Stay or Go?
Tharoor’s future in Congress remains uncertain. While he has repeatedly expressed his opposition to Hindutva politics, he is not fully aligned with either the BJP or the RSS, making a switch to the opposition unlikely. A senior Congress leader suggested that the worst-case scenario for Congress might be Tharoor stepping back from active politics, opting for a writing sabbatical, which would further distance him from the party.
For now, the prevailing sentiment within Kerala Congress is that Tharoor’s reluctance to fully engage with the party’s organizational structures, combined with his growing estrangement from key state leaders, might render him less relevant in the strategic calculations for the upcoming 2026 Kerala assembly elections.
Tharoor’s approach to politics, marked by his focus on intellectual engagement and national discourse, contrasts sharply with the Kerala Congress’s more grassroots-driven approach. If this trend continues, many within the party believe Tharoor may eventually find himself sidelined—not just from the state leadership, but also from the party’s key decision-making roles.
Shashi Tharoor’s growing disconnect with Kerala Congress is setting the stage for a complex political narrative in the state. With his national ambitions and rising profile, it remains to be seen whether Tharoor will reconcile his personal political trajectory with the party’s broader goals. However, the current tensions suggest that his path forward within Congress in Kerala is becoming increasingly fraught.
