Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor faces criticism from Kerala Congress leaders after praising policies of the CPI(M) government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. Amid speculation of a rift, Tharoor posted on X a quote highlighting the folly of wisdom. He defended his commendation of Prime Minister Modi’s US visit, emphasizing India’s growing global importance, and acknowledged the entrepreneurial growth in Kerala, crediting former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Tensions escalated when a Congress editorial urged Tharoor not to betray party workers ahead of local elections. Following backlash, he withdrew a controversial poster related to past killings involving CPI(M) members, opting for a toned-down tribute instead.
In the midst of speculation regarding a divide between him and the Congress due to his recent commendation of certain policies from the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor shared a cryptic message on X, indicating that sometimes wisdom can lead to mistakes.
He shared a quote from English poet Thomas Gray’s work ‘Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College’, stating, “Though of the Day: ‘Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.’
Today’s thought! pic.twitter.com/hXDxn9p0rv
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 22, 2025
Mr. Tharoor has faced backlash from Kerala Congress leaders for his commendation of specific CPI(M) government policies and for comments regarding the PM’s visit to the US.
He defended his remarks on PM Modi’s US visit, affirming that his perspective prioritized India’s interests and that “we cannot always speak only in terms of party interest.” He emphasized that PM Modi being the fourth world leader to meet Trump after his inauguration highlighted India’s rising importance on the global stage.
After his praise for the Prime Minister, he wrote an article commending the entrepreneurial advancements in CPI(M)-led Kerala. The Left party welcomed the Congress MP’s acknowledgment, viewing his comments as recognition of the achievements of Pinarayi Vijayan’s administration.
“As a Member of Parliament representing Kerala, I authored this article concentrating on a particular issue — the transformation of the industrial landscape through the growth of the startup sector. As a Congress supporter, I take pride in recognizing that it was former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who initiated this change,” he stated in Malayalam.
He credited Chandy’s policies for establishing the groundwork for Kerala’s startup ecosystem, citing initiatives such as the ‘Startup Village’ and the ‘Kerala Startup Mission’, which have been upheld by the current government.
Kerala Congress vs Shashi Tharoor
The controversy intensified when Veekshanam Daily, the Congress party’s official publication in Kerala, released an editorial criticizing Congress leader Shashi Tharoor — without directly naming him.
The editorial urged him not to disappoint the hopes of numerous party workers ahead of the forthcoming local body elections.
The strongly articulated editorial pointed out that an anti-incumbency wave was evident in the state, and that attempts to mitigate it by those responsible for inciting it represented a ‘distorted’ political practice.
Subsequently, Mr. Tharoor removed a poster from his Facebook, allegedly issued by the Kerala Congress Committee, which referred to CPI(M) members as “cannibals”.
Hours after sharing the contentious poster commemorating Kripesh and Sarathlal, the Youth Congress workers killed five years ago in Periya, Kasaragod district, by CPI(M) members, Mr. Tharoor made another post, sharing their images without any mention of CPI(M).