Thiruvananthapuram, June 18
As the high-stakes Nilambur by-election campaign drew participation from almost the entire Congress leadership in Kerala, the absence of senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has sparked curiosity and political speculation.
Despite being one of the most prominent faces of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Tharoor did not participate in a single campaign event for United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukath.
The campaign, which lasted 22 days—from the election notification on May 26 until the close of campaigning on June 17—saw senior Congress leaders touring Nilambur extensively to support the UDF.
However, sources indicate that neither the state nor national leadership of the Congress approached Tharoor to join the campaign. This lack of communication has added to the intrigue surrounding his absence, especially given Tharoor’s growing profile within the party and the public.
When asked directly about Tharoor’s non-participation, KPCC president Sunny Joseph gave a brief and non-committal response: “Shashi Tharoor did not come to Nilambur.” He offered no explanation, further fuelling speculation about whether the omission was strategic, deliberate, or merely an oversight.
Political observers point out that Tharoor’s absence is particularly significant given the Congress party’s broader efforts to showcase unity and energy ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. His presence in Nilambur could have bolstered the campaign, particularly among younger voters and urban constituencies.
This development also comes in the backdrop of Tharoor’s recent strained relationship with certain factions of the state Congress, following his growing popularity and independent political outreach. While Tharoor has often reiterated his commitment to the Congress, his limited involvement in state-level activities continues to raise questions within party circles.
With the by-election results eagerly awaited, the impact of his absence—both electorally and internally within the Congress—remains to be seen. Whether this signals deeper divisions or simply a case of miscommunication, Shashi Tharoor’s silence on Nilambur is echoing loudly in Kerala’s political corridors.
