'Rahul Gandhi & His Cronies Should Hang Themselves': Sharmistha Backs Shashi Tharoor Amid Buzz Of Rift With Congress

Amid reports that everything is not well between Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor and the Congress party, former President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter has attacked the Congress party and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the ongoing row.

Responding to a post on X that talked about Shashi Tharoor being given multiple offers from BJP that were spurned by him, Sharmistha stated, "It shows the rot in Rahul Congress that a person like Shashi Tharoor is being marginalised. RG & his cronies should hang their heads in shame."

Meanwhile, reacting to Shashi Tharoor's comment about a leadership vacuum in Kerala's Congress, Senior CPI(M) leader Thomas Isaac hinted that if Tharoor wishes to leave Congress, he would be welcomed by CPI(M).

He called it a "miracle" that Tharoor has remained in Congress for this long and stated, "Our party has welcomed many Congress leaders in the past."

On the other hand, the Congress in Kerala is taking a soft approach to the issue.

While AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal said that the Congress party would not sideline anyone for criticizing the workings of the party, Ramesh Chennithala justified Tharoor's actions and said that the latest controversial interview was taken before Tharoor met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.

Tharoor has sparked debate in political corridors after he said in a podcast, "If the party wants me then I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do. You should not think that I don't have any option to spend time. I have options. I have my books, speeches, invitations from across the world for talks." Following this remark from Tharoor, it is being speculated that it is just a matter of time before he chooses to leave Congress and join another party, as the Congress leadership has sidelined him in favor of other leaders.