New Delhi, May 8 - Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met with party President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, offering his insights into the political landscape of Keralam following the recent Assembly election victories. The discussions come as the party grapples with the selection of its next Chief Minister in the state, a process where elected MLAs have passed a resolution empowering the "high command" to make the final decision.
The central point of this development is the convergence of Tharoor's direct engagement with Kharge, juxtaposed with the formalization of the high command's authority in selecting the Kerala Chief Minister, occurring just after a significant electoral win for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
Sources indicate that Tharoor shared his "impressions" and discussed "recent political developments" with Kharge. This meeting occurred prior to the AICC observers submitting their report to the party leadership, a report compiled after consultations with legislators and senior state leaders. The observers' task was to gauge preferences and foster consensus regarding the leadership choice, amidst what is described as "growing internal lobbying."
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The electoral context for these discussions is the UDF's "decisive victory" in Kerala, which successfully "ended the decade-long dominance" of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). The UDF secured a "strong majority," with the Congress winning 63 seats and its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), taking 22 seats. In contrast, the LDF garnered 26 seats, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured only three seats.
Tharoor, who met with newly elected MLAs including C.P. John, Shaktan, and V.T. Balram in Thiruvananthapuram, described sharing thoughts with Kharge as a "pleasure," referring to him as an "experienced veteran" and a "strong, candid" leader. While Tharoor's specific endorsement for the Chief Minister's post remains unconfirmed, reports suggest the meeting aimed to convey the "current political situation and public sentiment in Kerala." The meeting also takes place as other contenders within the party reportedly intensify their consultations with MLAs to solidify support.
