Shashi Tharoor issue: Kerala Congress to seek action from high command

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM; Expressing resentment at party MP Shashi Tharoor praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress' Kerala unit today decided to submit a report to the party high command seeking suitable action in the matter.

KPCC president VM Sudheeran said praises lavished on Modi repeatedly by Tharoor had hurt Congress and UDF workers who worked sincerely and tirelessly for his victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency for a second time.

After interactions with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and other senior leaders, he said KPCC would submit a report to the high command on the issue reflecting the sentiments of the party's Kerala unit.

"Tharoor has praised Modi on several occasions. This has hurt the sentiments of the Congress and UDF workers who have put up hard work for Tharoor's victory in the Lok Sabha polls," Sudheeran told reporters.

"Kerala is a state that has rejected the BJP completely. This is mainly due to the democratic and secular outlook of the people. They also want Congress to be strengthened further. Tharoor has wounded their sentiments," Sudheeran added.

Tharoor, who drew flak from the KPCC by responding positively to Modi's invitation to him for the "Swachh Bharat" clean India campaign, has maintained that his response would not mean that he even remotely endorsed the BJP's "core Hindutva" agenda and that he continued to be a "proud Congressman".

"It is completely ridiculous. I reject it completely," Tharoor had said when asked about talks in some sections within his party and outside that he was trying to get close to the BJP.

The Congress' official daily in Kerala "Veekshnam", carried a stinging editorial yesterday, raising questions about his loyalty to the organisation.