Thiruvananthapuram ∙ MP Shashi Tharoor ended his campaign in Kerala after failing to secure the support of the leadership and groups in the Congress president election. Shashi Tharoor reached Chennai without meeting any major leaders except former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Met with representatives of Tamil Nadu Congress. Tharoor called it a friendly competition with senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge. Tharoor added that he is not disappointed in the Kerala tour and is looking at the conscience vote.
Tharoor came to Kerala after seeking votes in Maharashtra and Telangana. It is estimated that the campaign did not heat up as the leadership and groups declared their allegiance to Kharge before Tharoor’s arrival. Despite being in Thiruvananthapuram for three days, only Oommen Chandy, senior leaders Vakkam Purushothaman and Thennala Balakrishna Pillai could be seen. A meeting with Oommen Chandy did not secure the support of Group A.
Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala made public the I group’s stand by announcing that he would campaign with Kharge. Tharoor also retorted that Chennithala, who has no office, can campaign for Kharge. Tharoor, who has made up his mind on the conscience vote, sees KPCC president K. Sudhakaran’s statement that there will be a conscience vote as a good sign. Tharoor is in constant touch with the second tier of groups. The manifesto released in English and Hindi will be released in Malayalam soon.
English Summary: Congress President Election: Shashi Tharoor’s Kerala campaign ends