Pramode Mallik

Will four-time Congress MP Sashi Tharoor quit the party before the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026?

Will the prolific writer, know for his books more than politics, go back to his favourite pastime and intellectual pursuit?

Will the BJP be able to lure or force him to join the party in an attempt to make inroads in Kerala and have its presence felt in south India and break the image of being a cow-belt political party?

Shashi Tharoor Has Many Options

The writer of ‘Why I Am A Hindu’ has ruffled many feathers by declaring openly that he is available for Congress if the party does not use him properly, he has options, and he has many things to do.

Talking to a podcast with Indian Express Malayalam, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram set the alarm bell ringing. He said, “If the party wants to use that, I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do.”

He explained it, “You should not think that I have no other option. I have my books, speeches, invitations from across the world to give a talk.”

The writer has indicated that he would go back to books. There is no inkling of him joining the BJP.

Congress MP Praises PM Modi, BJP

However, his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the saffron party has raised fingers and left the grand old party upset.

While US President Donald Trump has been slammed for imposing reciprocal tariffs on India and that too in the presence of PM Modi, the Congress MP has found it “very encouraging”.

Talking to news agency ANI, he said, “So far, what we have seen from the press statements by the Prime Minister and President Trump are very encouraging. Some of the big concerns we all had have been addressed. On the question of trade and tariffs, they have decided to sit down together and do a serious negotiation that will conclude by September-October.”

Shashi Tharoor Praises BJP

Besides, he also praised the BJP for its organisational strength and suggested that Congress should learn lessons from the saffron party.

Pointing out that the saffron party beats the grand old party in organisationl set- up across states, the Congress MP called for an organisational set-up within the party to carry forward its ideology and ideas.

Coming under attack for praising the political rivals, the writer-turned-politician said that he is not a party spokesperson and speaks as a responsible stakeholder in democracy.

Thiruvananthapuram MP: Not A Party Spokesperson

He told the ANI, “It seems to me that something good has been achieved, and I applaud that as an Indian. We can’t always speak only in terms of party interests. I am not a party spokesman. I am an MP elected by all the people of Thiruvananthapuram, and on that basis, I speak as a responsible stakeholder in Indian democracy…”

However, analysts point out that Shashi Tharoor hit the headlines with his controversial statement when the party was gearing up for polls in his home state Kerala.

The BJP shocked everyone when it fielded popular Malayali film star Suresh Gopi from Thrissur in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Gopi won the polls.

Will BJP Put Pressure On Shashi Tharoor?

Will it shock the people and send shock waves to Congress by taking Shashi Tharoor on its side?

Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar died in 2014 under mysterious circumstances and the needle of suspicion moved toward the Thiruvananthapuram MP, he denied any involvement vehemently.

Will the BJP put pressure on Shashi Tharoor to join it so that it could get leverage and an image makeover before the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026?