Tharoor Rules Out CM Race, Says Kerala Chief Minister Should Be an Elected MLA

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has clarified that he is not in the race for the chief minister’s post in Kerala, stating that the position should ideally go to someone elected as an MLA.

In an interview with PTI, Tharoor said he is not contesting the upcoming Assembly elections and therefore does not see himself as a chief ministerial candidate. He added that his role in the elections will involve extensive campaigning across the state rather than focusing on a single constituency.

Tharoor described his campaign role as a “mixed bag,” explaining that he plans to travel across all 14 districts to connect with voters, particularly youth, professionals, and various interest groups. Since he is not tied to a constituency, he believes he can contribute more broadly to the party’s efforts.

Referring to a recent message by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urging party members to “dance together,” Tharoor said it was a positive call for unity and that leaders are now working in coordination.

He also expressed confidence in the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), suggesting that winning between 85 and 100 seats in the 140-member Assembly would be a strong outcome.

Using a cricket analogy, Tharoor said the UDF is putting the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) under pressure, describing their position as being on a “sticky wicket.”

On the question of whether Congress should project a chief ministerial face, Tharoor acknowledged that modern elections often revolve around individuals. However, he said the party has traditionally focused on its collective leadership and agenda rather than a single face. He admitted that not having a clear leader could be a disadvantage but emphasized that Congress has a strong grassroots presence across Kerala.

Tharoor also expressed surprise at the early election schedule, noting that the polling date of April 9 leaves parties with a very short campaign window. He suggested that the timeline appears to favor incumbent governments.

Despite this, he remained optimistic about the UDF’s chances, citing anti-incumbency, governance issues, financial challenges, and corruption allegations against the current LDF government.

Speaking about his recent meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor said any internal issues are not relevant to the state elections. He confirmed that he is actively involved as co-chair of the campaign committee and is fully committed to the party’s efforts.

He concluded by acknowledging that while internal differences exist in all political parties, Congress leaders in Kerala are united in their goal of achieving a better result than in the previous two Assembly elections.