Shashi Tharoor meets Kharge, Rahul Gandhi amid rift buzz, says Congress leadership on the same page
Meeting comes days after reports suggested unease between Tharoor and party’s top leadership, triggered by his absence from two key Congress meetings
PTC Web Desk: Amid growing speculation of differences within the Congress, senior party leader and MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, asserting that there is no discord and that all leaders are aligned going forward.
Sharing a photograph from the meeting on social media platform X, Tharoor described the interaction as positive and constructive. He said the discussion covered a wide range of issues and emphasised that the party leadership is united in its commitment to public service.
The meeting comes days after reports suggested unease between Tharoor and the party’s top leadership, triggered by his absence from two key Congress meetings and alleged dissatisfaction over being overlooked at a recent party event in Kerala.
The buzz around strained ties began after reports claimed Tharoor felt sidelined during a Congress programme in Kochi on January 19, where Rahul Gandhi reportedly acknowledged several senior leaders but did not mention Tharoor, despite his presence on the dais. Insiders suggested this may have contributed to growing unease.
Earlier on Thursday, when asked by reporters about his proposed meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor brushed aside the speculation, saying there was nothing unusual about meeting his party leaders and that he would inform the media once the meeting took place.
Adding to the speculation was Tharoor’s absence from two recent Congress meetings. He did not attend a high-level brainstorming session on the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections convened by Kharge in Delhi, as he was in Kozhikode attending a literature festival. The party later clarified that he had taken prior permission for the same.
Tharoor was also missing from the Congress parliamentary strategy group meeting held ahead of the Budget Session at Sonia Gandhi’s residence.
During his appearance at the literary festival, Tharoor reiterated that he remains firm and “unapologetic” about his views on national security. He said while he has supported certain actions taken by the BJP-led Centre against Pakistan, including Operation Sindoor, he has never violated the official stand of the Congress in Parliament.
He added that his only public disagreement with the party was on Operation Sindoor, and that too was expressed in principle.