Home » Politics » Lok Sabha Polls Result Rajeev Chandrasekhar Clarifies After Now Deleted Social Media Post Causes Confusion

Lok Sabha polls result: Rajeev Chandrasekhar clarifies after now-deleted social media post causes confusion

In an earlier post, which he later deleted and claimed it was posted by a "new young intern", he apparently said hi was quitting politics.

BySouth First Desk

Published Jun 09, 2024 | 11:39 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 10, 2024 | 12:37 AM

BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar says his public service comes to an end, Tharoor disagrees

Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Shashi Tharoor

Minutes before Narendra Modi was set to take oath as the Prime Minister for the third time, BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, 9 June, to post that the curtain was finally coming down on his “18-year stint of public service”.

The post was deleted soon, and Chandrashekar uploaded another on the site, clarifying that the previous one was put up by a “new young intern” from his team.

He also clarified that Sunday actually marked “the end of my 18 years long stint as a MP and my 3 years as Minister of State in the Council of Ministers under Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji [sic]”.

Today marks the end of my 18 years long stint as a MP and my 3 years as Minister of State in the Council of Ministers under Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji.

A tweet – tweeted by a new young intern in my team – thanking everyone for their inspiration and support during…

— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) June 9, 2024

Also Read: From Karnataka CM to Cabinet Minister in Modi government: JD(S)’ HD Kumaraswamy’s political profile

What the deleted post said

Chandrasekhar, who contested from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram against three-time MP Shashi Tharoor in a tight race, lost by a margin of 16,077 votes.

While key ministers in Modi’s outgoing government were on Sunday inducted into the Council of Ministers, Chandrasekhar isn’t on the list.

In the post he deleted a short while after posting it, he had said, “Today curtains down on my 18-year stint of public service, of which 3 years I had the privilege to serve with PM Narendra Modi TeamModi2.0.”

He added: “I certainly didn’t intend to end my 18 years of public service, as a candidate who lost an Election, but that’s how it turned out.”

In that post, he apparently also thanked people who supported him and said that he would continue to be a BJP karyakarta and work for the party.

“My deepest thanks to all those I met, all those who supported me – and in particular all those karyakartas and leaders who inspired and energized me. Thanks also to my colleagues in govt over the last 3 years. As a BJP karyakarta, I will continue to support and work in the party [sic],” he wrote.

Before he deleted the post, MP-elect Shashi Tharoor responded to him and assured him that the BJP leader could still contribute a lot to India through public service.

He wrote, “As someone who discussed various issues with you during your stint in government, I have no doubt that there is much more you can contribute to our country through public service, @RajeevRC_X. [sic]”

He further insisted that elective office was only one path of offering public service.

As someone who discussed various issues with you during your stint in government, I have no doubt that there is much more you can contribute to our country through public service, @RajeevRC_X. Elective office is only one path (and you are young enough to have another crack at… https://t.co/7WBE6AFgOB

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 9, 2024