THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Once isolated by his own party’s Kerala leadership, Shashi Tharoor now finds himself with little time to rest, as UDF candidates compete with one another to secure his presence on the campaign trail. In the run-up to the assembly elections, he has emerged as the most sought-after star campaigner of the Congress after Rahul Gandhi.
Party sources say nearly every UDF candidate is keen to have Tharoor campaign for them, banking on his popular appeal among urban voters and the wider electorate.
A case in point was a recent road show in which Tharoor shared the stage with Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, who was once a staunch adversary of the Thiruvananthapuram MP. The joint appearance with candidates has been drawing significant public attention, underlining Tharoor’s undisputed prominence within the party’s campaign strategy.
“There is a clear demand for him across constituencies,” a senior Congress leader said. “The requests for his participation often exceed what can be accommodated. Leaders who once asked him to quit the Congress are now requesting his presence.”
After his entry into politics in 2009, Tharoor campaigned for Congress candidates in the 2011 and 2016 assembly elections. However, the KPCC leadership did not officially acknowledge his efforts.
This came at a time when his relationship with the Gandhi family appeared strained, and there were apprehensions among a section of Kerala leaders about his possible bid for the chief ministerial post.
However, following a meeting between Tharoor and Rahul in February this year, where they are believed to have resolved their issues, relations between the state Congress leadership and the parliamentarian improved.
“With the prospects of a tough electoral fight, the leadership realised that Tharoor’s popularity and credibility would prove useful,” a KPCC office-bearer said.
Tharoor is expected to cover 56 constituencies. In the first leg, from March 21 to April 1, he visited 37 constituencies. In the second leg from April 2 to 6, Tharoor will participate in various programmes, including road shows with candidates and election meetings.
“The campaign has been very successful, and often exhilarating,” Tharoor told TNIE. “The public enthusiasm and the energy and self-belief of party workers has been truly inspiring. I sense an overwhelming momentum building up behind the UDF,” he said.
Tharoor will be in Malappuram in the coming days to campaign for IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty and Congress’ A P Anil Kumar, besides seven other constituencies. He will also be part of a road show in Peravoor for KPCC chief Sunny Joseph.
Rahul Gandhi has reportedly instructed Tharoor to stay in Kerala and concentrate on the campaign, despite the ongoing Parliament session.
“The journey started in two cars from Thiruvananthapuram on March 21,” a Tharoor associate said. Tharoor has been according prominence to swing seats. “He is also covering 20% of the UDF’s safe constituencies,” he added.