Shashi Tharoor skips Rahul Gandhi meeting for third time in a row, heightens Congress unease

This marks the third consecutive time he has skipped such strategy sessions.

His absence has triggered renewed whispers in Congress about his strained relations with the central leadership, especially after his recent statements that appeared complimentary toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram, was notably missing from Friday’s internal review meeting convened to recalibrate the party’s attack strategy ahead of the final stretch of Parliament’s winter session, which concludes on December 19.

Personal commitments cited for latest no-show

The Congress leader’s X timeline showed he was attending personal engagements in Kolkata and London, including the wedding of his long-time aide John Koshy and the birthday celebration of his sister, Smita Tharoor. 

Chandigarh MP Manish Tiwari also did not attend Friday’s meeting.

Earlier absences

Tharoor’s two earlier absences were in November.

On November 30, he missed a strategy meeting chaired by Sonia Gandhi — a sensitive moment given his past role among the ‘G-23’ leaders who questioned her leadership in 2020.

Tharoor clarified later that he had been on a flight from Kerala at the time, accompanied by his 90-year-old mother on a rescheduled journey.

KC Venugopal was also absent from that meeting.

On November 18, he skipped another meeting regarding the party’s opposition to the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter verification process.

The meeting, led by Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, saw Tharoor citing ill health for his absence.

Praise for PM Modi sparks internal flare-up

Just a day before the November 18 meeting, Tharoor had attended an event where Prime Minister Modi delivered a speech.

His social media appreciation of the PM’s remarks triggered a sharp backlash within Congress ranks.

Senior leaders Supriya Shrinate and Sandeep Dikshit publicly criticised his comments, with Dikshit even questioning if Tharoor should remain in the party.

Tharoor responded by urging pragmatic cooperation across political lines, arguing that India’s federal structure often requires collaboration between governments with contrasting ideologies to serve the electorate effectively.

Last party presence was in October

Sources indicate that the last major party meeting Tharoor attended was in October, during an extensive six-hour strategy session of the Kerala unit.

Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were all present as preparations for next year’s Assembly elections began.

Rahul Gandhi’s latest strategy push

Friday’s meeting saw Rahul Gandhi, now Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, boosting the morale of the party’s 99 MPs.

He reiterated his claim from Thursday that sustained opposition pressure is unsettling senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“Amit Shahji was very nervous… he used the wrong language, his hands were trembling. He is under tremendous mental pressure. Everyone saw this yesterday,” Gandhi told the MPs.

As the winter session nears its close, Tharoor’s repeated absence is once again prompting discussion within the Congress about internal cohesion, loyalty, and the party’s messaging during a crucial political season.