Tharoor Uninvited: Nilambur Bypoll Stirs Congress Dispute

In a surprising twist, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor revealed on Thursday that he was not invited to campaign for the party's candidate in the Nilambur Assembly by-election in Kerala. Curiously, his name was among those on the list of star campaigners submitted by the Congress to the Election Commission.

The list of star campaigners, which included prominent figures such as KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, V D Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala, was officially sent to the Election Commission of India by Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik. The Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala received this list for further distribution on June 5.

Addressing internal differences, Tharoor admitted, "I have disagreements with the current Congress leadership." Emphasizing the importance of internal dialogue, he refrained from actively participating in the Nilambur election campaign due to the absence of an invitation. However, his commitment to the Congress party's values and workers remains unwavering.

Despite acknowledging certain disagreements with party leaders, Tharoor chose not to delve into specifics as voting in the Assembly bye-election was still in progress. "Our Congress workers have worked diligently in Nilambur, and we fielded an excellent candidate. I hope their efforts yield positive results," he remarked.

The by-election, marked by a voter turnout of 70.76% by 5 PM, was necessitated by the resignation of LDF independent legislator PV Anvar, who subsequently joined the All India Trinamool Congress. Robust arrangements ensured a smooth and secure polling process in the district.

(With inputs from agencies.)