NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has sparked speculation about his political future with a recent statement suggesting that he has โoptionsโ if the party no longer requires his services.
His remarks come amid growing rumors of a rift after he praised both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala.
In a media interview, Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, stated, โIf the party wants me, then I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do. You should not think I have no option to spend time. I have options.โ
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His comments have fueled speculation about whether he is considering an alternative political path or merely expressing frustration over his role within the Congress party.
On February 25, Tharoor also shared a picture on X with BJP leader Piyush Goyal, writing, โGood to exchange words with Jonathan Reynolds, Britainโs Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in the company of his Indian counterpart, Commerce & Industry Minister โฆ@PiyushGoyalโฉ. The long-stalled FTA negotiations have been revived, which is most welcome.โ
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Tharoor cautioned that if the Congress failed to broaden its appeal, it risked remaining in the opposition for a third consecutive term in Kerala, where Assembly elections are scheduled for next year.
However, he dismissed the possibility of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, citing ideological differences.
Having joined the Indian National Congress in 2009, Tharoor won the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat in the same year.
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He asserted that several Congress members shared his concerns about the partyโs Kerala unit lacking a clear leadership.
Citing independent opinion polls, he claimed that these surveys placed him ahead of others in the stateโs leadership stakes.
Tharoorโs praise of the LDF government for promoting entrepreneurship was strongly opposed by the state Congress and other opposition leaders. Following the backlash, Rahul Gandhi invited him for a meeting to discuss the issue.
