Amid Tharoor Row, Congress Leadership Warns Against ‘Personal’ Views During Kerala Poll Strategy Meeting
Congress warns leaders against "personal" remarks ahead of Kerala elections, emphasising unity and a focus on change. This comes amid an internal squabble over MP Shashi Tharoor's recent statements.
The Congress leadership has issued a stern warning against any "disrespectful" remarks that could harm the party’s electoral prospects in Kerala, as discussions intensified over the upcoming local body and assembly elections in the state. Following a high-level meeting of the Congress top brass with its Kerala leaders, AICC in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi made it clear that the party would take strict action against any statements that undermine its position.
"First, there is a local body election, followed by the assembly election. How should we contest, what will be our strategy, what will be our roadmap—all members have spoken. We have got a clear indication from our high command that Congress is very much connected with the people of Kerala. People are looking for a change, so we should not do anything that will disrespect the people of Kerala. This was a clear indication, and if anyone personally... their view is coming to the media, we will take strong action on that, because we have no right to disrespect the people of Kerala," Dasmunshi said.
VIDEO | After the conclusion of meeting of Congress top brass with its Kerala party leaders, Congress leader Deepa Dasmunshi (@DeepaDasmunsi) says, "First there is a local body election, followed by the Assembly election; how should we go in that election, what will be our… pic.twitter.com/qLxGTmElQK
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 28, 2025
Dasmunshi made these remarks while standing alongside Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal. She also countered media reports suggesting a lack of unity within the Kerala Congress, "Media is giving an impression that there's no unity in Congress party in Kerala, which is untrue. Leaders are strongly united against the LDF and the BJP. The leaders will speak in a univocal voice."
Elaborating on the Congress campaign in the southern state, she said, "There were many programmes scheduled over the next few months, that have been discussed, and in April, there will be a ward president state conference which will be attended by Kharge ji, Rahul ji, and Priyanka ji. That will be the starting boost for the workers of Kerala Congress."
VIDEO | "There were many programmes scheduled over the next few months, that has been discussed, and in April, there will be a ward president state conference which will be attended by Kharge ji, Rahul ji and Priyanka ji. That will be the starting boost for the workers of Kerala… pic.twitter.com/FdmXYIwAOW
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 28, 2025
Meanwhile, speaking to news agency PTI, Deepa ruled out a discussion on any specific Congress leader, "The discussions were not regarding any specific person or leader. It was a general discussion that went on regarding the strategy and roadmap of Congress in Kerala and how the narrative should be set up."
VIDEO | Here's what Congress leader Deepa Dasmunshi (@DeepaDasmunsi) said after the conclusion of meeting of party top brass with its Kerala party leaders in Delhi.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 28, 2025
"The discussions were not regarding any specific person or leader. It was a general discussion that went on… pic.twitter.com/CSTvdZ8Sct
Congress Kerala Poll Strategy Meeting Amid Internal Squabble Over Shashi Tharoor's Remarks
The meeting, chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, aimed to formulate a strategy to take on the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming assembly elections.
Sharing a video of the meeting, Kharge took to X and wrote, "Change is inevitable in Kerala. Congress has built the development paradigm and welfare model of Kerala, and we will do everything possible to bring our UDF to power. Next year, people will defeat both the oppressive and communal fronts in the state."
Change is inevitable in Kerala. Congress has built the development paradigm and welfare model of Kerala, and we will do everything possible to bring our UDF to power. Next year, people will defeat both the oppressive and communal fronts in the state.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) February 28, 2025
We held a meeting of… pic.twitter.com/Pl4efEUpMS
Apart from Kharge, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran, and CLP leader V D Satheesan participated in the discussions. Other prominent leaders in attendance included Ramesh Chennithala, Congress chief whip K Suresh, Shashi Tharoor, and Kerala Mahila Congress president Jebi Mather, PTI reported.
The meeting comes amid controversy over Tharoor’s recent newspaper article, which praised the LDF government for improving Kerala’s investment climate. His remarks in a Malayalam podcast where he said he has "options" further fuelled speculation about his political aspirations in the state, drawing criticism from a section of the Kerala Congress leadership.
"If 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 that I don't have any option to spend time. I have options. I have my books, speeches, invitations from across the world for talks," he had said.
In another article, the Thiruvananthapuram MP's praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent United States visit also became yet another contentious matter for the party.
According to Onmanorama, KPCC leadership submitted a letter of dissent against Tharoor to the AICC High Command. Congress leaders, including Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, criticised Tharoor his praise for PM Modi and Kerala government.
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While Tharoor has defended his stance, accusing the media of misrepresenting his words, his remarks sparked discussions over his ambition to become Chief Minister and whether he would be the next Congress bigwig to quit the grand old party.
With assembly elections in Kerala scheduled for March-April next year, the Congress is looking to reclaim power from the LDF, positioning itself as the principal challenger.
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