Thiruvananthapuram, July 20: Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan has openly criticized fellow MP Shashi Tharoor over his recent remarks on national security, declaring that Tharoor will not be invited to any Congress events in the state capital unless he changes his stance.
Muraleedharan stated that Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in Parliament, is no longer considered “one of us” within the party’s Kerala unit. He also hinted at potential disciplinary action from the party’s national leadership.
The comments follow Tharoor’s defense of his support for the armed forces and central government on national security matters, where he emphasized that “the nation comes first” and called for cross-party cooperation. He acknowledged internal criticism for his views but maintained his position, calling it the “right thing for the country.”
This is not the first time tensions have surfaced between the two leaders. Muraleedharan previously questioned Tharoor’s loyalty to the party after the latter was highlighted in a public survey as a popular choice for chief minister. Additionally, Tharoor has drawn flak for his commentary on the Emergency and for remarks following the Pahalgam terror attack, which some in the party viewed as politically damaging.
Muraleedharan concluded by suggesting that if Tharoor feels constrained within the Congress, he should consider choosing a clearer political path.
