Have difference of opinion with some Congress leaders: Tharoor

Congress Working Committee member Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said he had difference of opinion with some in the party leadership, but he was not going to speak about them in light of the bypoll in the Nilambur constituency.

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Tharoor — who came under attack from some party colleagues for supporting the Modi government’s stand, following the Pahalgam terror attack — said the Congress, its values and its workers were very dear to him.

The Congress veteran said he had closely worked with party workers for 16 years and regarded them as close friends and brothers. “However, I do have difference of opinion with some in the Congress leadership,” Tharoor said.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP did not clarify whether his differences of opinion were with the national or state leadership. But he indicated that he might talk about those differences after the bypoll results.

Tharoor’s remarks come at a time when the Congress has not publicly backed him, after former Congress MP Udit Raj termed him as the “super spokesperson” of the BJP over his remarks during his international delegation visits.

Tharoor on Thursday termed it a “misconception”. He said that he decided not to enter into an argument over it as he was very busy with the delegation visits and he did not want to respond to statements which were made without understanding what he had said.

Asked why he was not part of the by-poll campaign, Tharoor said he was not invited to it as was the practice during the other bypoll. “I do not go where I am not invited,” he said, adding he wanted the the UDF candidate to win from Nilambur.