Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, putting to rest speculation of a rift within the party. Posting a photo of the meeting on X, Tharoor wrote, “Thanks to @INCIndia President @kharge ji and LS LoP @RahulGandhi ji for a warm and constructive discussion today on a wide range of subjects. We are all on the same page as we move forward in the service of the people of India.”
The meeting comes after reports suggested Tharoor was “upset” following a perceived snub by Rahul Gandhi at an event in Kochi, Kerala. Several media reports indicated Tharoor felt sidelined when he was not acknowledged by Gandhi during the event, despite being seated on the same dais.
The controversy intensified after Tharoor missed two key Congress meetings. The first, a brainstorming session for upcoming Kerala assembly polls, coincided with his attendance at a literary festival in Kozhikode. The second, a parliamentary strategy meeting ahead of the budget session, was missed as he was returning from another international literature festival. Party sources confirmed that Tharoor had informed officials about his absence in advance.
Tharoor also emphasized that his public disagreements, such as his support for the government’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, have been in principle and do not violate Congress positions. At the literary festival, he described himself as “unapologetic” about his stance on national security.
With Thursday’s meeting, Tharoor reaffirmed that he and senior party leaders are aligned on key issues and committed to working together for public service, effectively quelling ongoing speculation about tensions within the Congress.
