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Satheesan Breaks Silence, Vows to Campaign Statewide After Tharoor Meet

Kerala's Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has broken his prolonged silence regarding Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, announcing he will campaign actively across all constituencies. This follows a crucial two-hour meeting in Delhi between Tharoor, Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi, which reportedly resolved misunderstandings and reinforced party unity. Tharoor has since dismissed detailed media reports about the private meeting as "sheer speculation," while also meeting senior leader A.K. Antony in Thiruvananthapuram. The Congress is now focused on presenting a cohesive electoral strategy to strengthen its prospects in the upcoming state assembly elections.

Key Points: Congress Unity in Kerala After Tharoor, Kharge, Rahul Gandhi Meet

  • Satheesan ends weeks of silence on Tharoor
  • Delhi meeting with Kharge & Rahul Gandhi clears air
  • Tharoor decries media speculation on closed-door talks
  • Congress aims to project united front for Kerala polls
2 min read

'Will campaign in all constituencies': Satheesan breaks silence on Tharoor after Delhi thaw

Kerala LoP V.D. Satheesan ends silence, pledges to campaign in all constituencies after Shashi Tharoor's unity meeting with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.

"After yesterday's discussions in Delhi, there is now clarity. He will be campaigning in all the constituencies. - V.D. Satheesan"

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 30

After weeks of silence on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Kerala's Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Friday said that he would campaign actively across all constituencies in the state ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Satheesan's statement comes on the heels of a two-hour heart-to-heart discussion in Delhi on Thursday between Tharoor, Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge, and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at the Parliament House.

The meeting reportedly cleared misunderstandings and reinforced party unity ahead of the crucial polls.

Until now, Satheesan had largely avoided commenting on Tharoor, often turning away or remaining silent whenever asked about the MP's perceived indifference or differences with the party leadership.

"After yesterday's discussions in Delhi, there is now clarity. He will be campaigning in all the constituencies," Satheesan said, signalling a visible thaw in previously tense relations.

Tharoor, who was present at the state party headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, also met senior leaders, including A.K. Antony, further cementing reconciliation within the party's Kerala unit.

Party insiders said these engagements were aimed at presenting a united front in the run-up to the state elections, quelling reports of factionalism that had occasionally surfaced in the media.

Tharoor on Friday took to his social media account and posted: "I have been reading fanciful accounts of who said what in my meeting with @INCIndiaPresident @kharge and LokSabha LoP @RahulGandhi. Let me stress that there were only three of us in the room, and none of us has spoken to the media in such detail. My only comments have been those made publicly; everything else is sheer speculation. I deplore this kind of irresponsible journalism, which gives authentic reporting a bad name".

Satheesan emphasised that the focus now is on the party's electoral strategy and connecting with voters statewide.

He underlined that from grassroots organisers to senior functionaries, all would work together to strengthen the party's prospects in every constituency.

The Congress appears determined to project unity and consolidate its support ahead of the polls.

Party sources believe this newfound cohesion could provide a decisive edge in the upcoming electoral battle.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Tharoor is right to call out the media speculation. So much of our political coverage is just gossip and unnamed 'sources'. We need reporting on policies, not palace intrigues. Hope the Congress presents a solid manifesto now.
P
Priya S
Better late than never, Satheesan chetta. But honestly, this 'thaw' feels very staged for the elections. Will this unity last beyond the polls? The Congress party's Kerala unit has a history of factions. Actions speak louder than press statements.
V
Vikram M
As a voter from Thiruvananthapuram, I just want my MP and the state leadership to work for us. All this Delhi meetings and reconciliations mean nothing if they don't translate to work on the ground. Show us the unity in solving local issues! 🙏
A
A.K. Menon
This is a positive step. The Congress needs both Satheesan's grassroots connect and Tharoor's national/international stature. They are complementary, not contradictory. A united front is the only way to take on the incumbent government effectively.
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Nikhil C
While unity is good, I have a respectful criticism. This whole episode shows a top-down culture. Why did it require a meeting with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi to solve a state-level issue? Where is the autonomy for state units? Food for thought.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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