Tharoor’s support for the armed forces and appeal for bipartisan unity on national security drew criticism from within the party, with some viewing it as echoing the BJP’s stance
Published Jul 22, 2025 | 6:26 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 22, 2025 | 6:26 PM
Tharoor-Muraleedharan rift widens over CM survey, National security remarks
Synopsis: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on 22 July dismissed K. Muraleedharan’s criticism questioning his loyalty, amid rising tensions within the Kerala Congress. The clash follows Tharoor sharing a survey naming him the UDF’s top CM choice. Muraleedharan, irked by the post, took a veiled swipe, suggesting Tharoor must first “decide which party he belongs to.”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday, 22 July, pushed back against fellow party leader K. Muraleedharan’s sharp criticism, dismissing questions about his loyalty and standing within the party.
The latest flare-up reflects deepening tensions within the Kerala unit of the Congress, especially after Tharoor shared a survey showing him as the most preferred Chief Ministerial candidate among United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders.
Muraleedharan had earlier taken a veiled dig at Tharoor, suggesting that the Thiruvananthapuram MP should first “decide which party he belongs to.”
He also warned that Tharoor would not be invited to Congress events in the Thiruvananthapuram district unless he “corrected his stance” on national security, alleging that Tharoor’s recent statements were out of line with the party’s core views.
The criticism followed Tharoor’s public support for the Indian armed forces and his call for bipartisan cooperation on national security—remarks that some in the party interpreted as pandering to the BJP narrative.
Tharoor, however, stood firm, asserting that his statements were grounded in national interest rather than partisan calculations.
“My position has always been clear: the country comes first,” Tharoor said. “Party politics should not override national security.”
Tensions were already simmering following Tharoor’s post on a private agency’s survey, which claimed that 28.3 percent of respondents preferred him as the next Chief Minister if the Congress-led UDF wins the 2026 Assembly elections.
Muraleedharan was quick to dismiss the poll and said that the UDF, if victorious, would decide its leader collectively.
“Our focus is on winning the election, not on unnecessary controversies,” he told reporters, adding that the Congress has several seasoned leaders capable of taking up the CM’s post.
“There’s a framework within the party for such decisions.”
The public exchange points to growing unease in the party over leadership ambitions and ideological positioning, with Tharoor’s independent political posturing continuing to ruffle feathers among Congress veterans.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
