Shashi Tharoor Skips Key Congress Meeting Again, Cites Ill Health
Shashi Tharoor Skips Key Congress Meeting Again, Cites Ill Health
Tharoor misses the Congress strategy session again, citing ill health while traveling with his mother; party leaders weigh his stance as Parliament session looms.
Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress Working Committee member, again skipped a crucial strategic meeting chaired by Sonia Gandhi that was meant to chart the party's approach for the winter Parliament session.
Tharoor's office said he was in Kerala and traveling back with his 90-year-old mother on a later flight, a line echoed after he recently missed a meeting called on the SIR issue. The absence comes even as he attended Prime Minister Modi's event a day earlier, and his Instagram posts praising the PM sparked questions within the party.
With local body election campaigning underway, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal was unable to reach Delhi for Sunday's meeting, underscoring the leadership's difficulty in getting everyone together for a critical planning session.
Inside the party, Supriya Srinate criticized the PM's speech as lacking merit, saying she did not find anything worth appreciating. Tharoor's own comments in the past about his concerns for the country have added fuel to the debate about his stance and allegiance within the party.
The ongoing absences come as Parliament's winter session opens, and the Congress seeks a coherent message from its ranks ahead of key votes. The 'plane' excuse cited by some reports has also fueled speculation about Tharoor's plans and his role in future strategy.
In the background, questions about party unity persist as leaders navigate competing voices within the Congress. Tharoor's situation remains under watch as the party implements its approach to the session, and his next public appearance will be closely scrutinized.
Cover image source: Shashi Tharoor misses major Congress party meeting for second time in a row 🔗
