Shashi Tharoor’s selfie with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, shared on Monday, has deepened the ongoing political storm surrounding his recent praise of the Left government’s handling of the state’s economy. Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, posted images from a dinner hosted by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar in Delhi, where MPs from the state gathered to discuss key developmental issues. Alongside the photos — including one with Vijayan and another with the Governor — Tharoor wrote, “this unusual gesture augurs well for our combined efforts to develop the state, beyond our political differences.”
The timing of his post is significant, given the controversy his recent newspaper article stirred within his own party. In the piece, Tharoor acknowledged the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s efforts in managing Kerala’s economy, a move that earned him rare praise from CPI(M) leaders but also triggered a wave of discontent among his Congress colleagues. The backlash became public when Kerala’s Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan openly questioned Tharoor’s statements, demanding to know the basis of his assessment. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also sought clarification from Tharoor, reflecting the party’s unease with one of its senior leaders seemingly endorsing the performance of its primary rival in the state.
The matter escalated to the national level, prompting Rahul Gandhi to step in and manage the fallout. A meeting was held in Delhi to discuss the situation, with efforts made to ensure the controversy didn’t fracture the party’s image in Kerala ahead of the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, Veekshanam Daily, the Congress’s official mouthpiece in the state, published a strongly worded editorial criticizing Tharoor’s remarks and reiterating the party’s stance that the Left government’s performance wasn’t worthy of praise.
Tharoor later clarified that his article wasn’t intended as a comprehensive evaluation of Kerala’s economic state but rather a recognition of specific initiatives. However, his clarification did little to calm the simmering tensions within the state Congress unit, where several leaders reportedly view his comments as an attempt to carve an independent political identity.
The latest selfie, showing Tharoor smiling alongside Vijayan, is likely to keep the controversy alive. Political observers speculate whether Tharoor — a three-time MP with a strong personal following in Kerala — is positioning himself as a more centrist, statesman-like figure, unafraid of crossing traditional party lines to advocate for Kerala’s development. While Tharoor maintains that his goal is bipartisan collaboration for the state’s progress, his critics within Congress warn that such gestures could blur the ideological lines that separate the party from the Left.
With Kerala heading into a high-stakes election season, Tharoor’s growing proximity to the Left leadership — intentional or not — has sparked whispers of political realignment. Whether this leads to further friction within the Congress or positions Tharoor as a unique voice capable of bridging Kerala’s political divides remains to be seen.
