Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has provided an explanation for his absence from a critical strategy meeting held on Sunday by the party’s strategic group, under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi. The meeting was dedicated to planning for the upcoming winter session of Parliament. Tharoor stated on Monday that he was traveling back from Kerala on a flight and therefore could not attend.
His missed participation in the Sunday gathering had attracted notice within political spheres. When questioned about his absence, the Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram clarified, “I did not skip it; I was on a plane, coming from Kerala.” His office had also issued a statement confirming his return journey from Kerala with his mother, who is 90 years old, on a subsequent flight.
This is not the first time Tharoor has been unable to attend an important party meeting. He previously missed a Congress deliberation on the SIR matter, citing health concerns. His attendance at a government event presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the day after skipping the SIR meeting had prompted queries from some party members. Furthermore, earlier social media posts by Tharoor, where he commended the Prime Minister, had previously led to criticism from within his own party. The ongoing relationship between Tharoor and the Congress party has been a persistent topic, particularly in light of his occasional endorsements of Prime Minister Modi’s actions after national security initiatives.