Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor addressed speculation surrounding his absence from a crucial Kerala Congress meeting in Delhi. Tharoor emphasized that his decision had no political undertones and that any concerns had been communicated internally. Reports linking his non-attendance to alleged discontent over a previous party meeting in Kochi were downplayed by Tharoor.
Tharoor, interacting with the media, declined to publicly discuss any internal differences within the Congress. He stressed that discussions of such nature should be confined to party forums and not aired publicly. Tharoor cautioned against reading too much into media reports, stating that some may be accurate while others could be misleading.
Explaining his absence from the Delhi meeting, Tharoor cited logistical constraints and prior commitments. He had informed the party leadership in advance about his inability to attend and highlighted the impracticality of canceling his engagements or returning from Delhi to Kozhikode within the timeframe. Tharoor’s presence in Kozhikode was linked to the launch of his latest book at a literary festival, an event he was eager not to miss.
Reiterating his stance, Tharoor emphasized that any issues he wished to raise would be addressed within the party’s internal mechanisms. He made it clear that his concerns would be communicated within the party and not in the public domain, putting an end to the speculations.
CWC member Ramesh Chennithala noted that Tharoor’s absence from the meeting should be viewed in the context of his dual role as a politician and a prominent literary figure.
