Amid ongoing speculation about his strained ties with the Congress leadership, senior party MP Shashi Tharoor sparked fresh discussions by sharing a selfie with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Britain’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds.
Tharoor posted the picture on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the revival of the long-stalled India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. “Good to exchange words with Jonathan Reynolds, Britain’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in the company of his Indian counterpart, Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. The long-stalled FTA negotiations have been revived, which is most welcome,” he wrote.
Tharoor’s Recent Statements Fuel Speculation
The post comes at a time when Tharoor is facing criticism from within the Congress, particularly for his remarks praising Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s industrial policy. His recent cryptic social media post also fueled speculation about his dissatisfaction.
Quoting English poet Thomas Gray, Tharoor posted on X: “Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.”
Adding to the intrigue, he stated in a recent interview that if the Congress did not require his leadership, he had other career options. “If the party wants to use that, I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do. You should not think that I have no other option. I have my books, speeches, invitations from across the world to give a talk,” he told The Indian Express.
In another Malayalam podcast interview, Tharoor emphasized the need for Congress to expand its voter base in Kerala, warning that failure to do so could result in the party remaining in opposition for a third consecutive term in the state.
Tharoor’s Clarification on Praising Kerala’s LDF Government
Tharoor’s recent praise of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s handling of the state’s economy and industrial climate stirred controversy among Congress leaders. The party is gearing up for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, and Tharoor’s remarks were seen as out of sync with the Congress’ stance.
In his defense, Tharoor clarified that he was specifically referring to Kerala’s startup ecosystem and not the state’s overall economic condition, which he described as being in “dire straits.”
“First of all, I wrote it as a Kerala MP on one specific subject, the changed industrial climate as evidenced by the start-up ecosystem alone,” he said. He further credited former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for laying the foundation of the Start-Up Mission, which he acknowledged the current LDF government has built upon.
Reports Suggest Tharoor Feels Sidelined
According to reports, Tharoor has expressed disappointment over being sidelined within the party. His growing disagreements with the state leadership and his independent political moves have fueled speculation about his future in Congress.
Sources By Agencies
