I have not done anything wrong: Tharoor tells his supporters

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shashi Tharoor who quit as Minister of state for External Affairs in the wake of IPL controversy today insisted he has not done anything wrong and that he used his office only for the benefit of his constituency and state.

"I haven't done anything wrong and nobody is going to believe the allegations hurled at me," Tharoor told party workers as he arrived here on his first visit to his Lok Sabha constituency after being caught in the IPL storm.

"I have used my office and personal influence only for the benefit of my constituency Thiruvananthapuram and the people of Kerala," Tharoor, whose exit came over the IPL Kochi franchise controversy, said.

Tharoor was accused of misusing office for pecuniary gain by the Opposition after IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi revealed that his friend Sunanda Pushkar had sweat equity stakes of Rs 70 crore in Rendezvous Sports World (RSW), heading the consortium that owns the Kochi team.

The charge was denied both by Tharoor and Sunanda who later returned her share and quit the franchise.

As Tharoor arrived at the airport here, Congress workers in expression of solidarity gave him a rousing reception.

CPI's youth outfit AIYF, however, held a black-flag demonstration outside the airport demanding the resignation of Tharoor as the Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram.

Besides Congress workers, Tharoor's supporters also turned up at the airport with some holding placards showing "support Tharoor" and some others waving cricket bats.

After addressing party workers here, Tharoor would leave for Kochi to attend the high power committee meeting of the Congress-led UDF coalition.

In his electoral debut, the former UN diplomat won from Thiruvananthapuram Parliament seat last year defeating his CPI rival by a margin of one lakh votes.

Security was tightened in the airport in view of the protest organised by AIYF workers who were later removed by the police.