Shashi Tharoor says he has differences of opinion with some in Congress leadership

Thiruvananthapuram | Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said he has differences of opinion with some in the party leadership, but he is not going to speak about them in light of the bypoll in the Nilambur constituency.

Speaking to reporters here, Tharoor-- who came under attack from some party colleagues for supporting the Modi government's stand following the Pahalgam terror attack -- said that the Congress, its values, and its workers are very dear to him.

He said he has worked closely with party workers for 16 years and regards them as close friends and brothers.

"However, I do have differences of opinion with some in the Congress leadership. You know what I am talking about, as some of those issues are there in the public domain and have been reported by you (media)," Tharoor said.

He did not clarify whether his differences of opinion were with the national or state leadership. The Thiruvananthapuram MP indicated that he might talk about those differences after the bypoll results.

Tharoor's remarks come at a time when the Congress has not publicly backed him, after a party leader described him as the "super spokesperson of the BJP.

Former Congress MP Udit Raj had termed Tharoor as the "super spokesperson" of the BJP over his remarks during his international delegation visits when he allegedly said that India crossed the LoC for the first time in 2015.

Responding to the same, Tharoor on Thursday termed it as a "misconception".

He also said that he decided not to enter into an argument over it as he was very busy with the delegation visits and he did not want to respond to statements which were made without understanding what he had said.

On being asked whether he was going to leave the party, he said he was "not going anywhere".

"I am a member of the Congress party. Let the party decide what it thinks about me," he said.

Asked why he was not part of the by-poll campaign, Tharoor said he was not invited to it as was the practice during the other by-elections, including the one in Wayanad held last year.

"I do not go where I am not invited," he said and added that he wants the party workers' campaign efforts to bear fruit and the UDF candidate to win from Nilambur.

He also said that he was probably not needed in Nilambur. "If I was needed there, I would have gone there".

Regarding his recent talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor said it was regarding the delegations' visits to various countries in connection with Operation Sindoor and the discussions held there.

"No domestic politics were discussed," he said.

Defending his decision to accept the Centre's invite to head one of the delegations, he said that when he became the chairman of the External Affairs Committee of the Parliament, he had made it clear that he was focused on India's foreign policy and its national interest and not the foreign policy of the Congress and BJP.

"I have not changed my line. When an issue concerning the nation comes up, we are all obligated to work and speak for the country. What I said during Operation Sindoor was my own opinion.

"The Centre asked for my services. Indeed, my party did not. So, I proudly did my duty as an Indian citizen," he said.

He further said that he was trusted four times by the people of Thiruvananthapuram to represent them and he has been working for them.

"When we take up a responsibility, we need to see it through with confidence and sincerity. That is what I have done all my life. The central government gave me a responsibility and I saw it through with the same sincerity. If such opportunities come again, I will be there," he said.