"Relevant People Only": Congress Insults Tharoor After He Skips Meet

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor skipped a crucial party strategy meeting in New Delhi today, Friday, January 23, 2026, fueling speculation of a deepening rift with the high command. While his office cited prior commitments at the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in Kozhikode and protocol duties for PM Modi’s visit to his constituency, internal sources confirm the move was a calculated protest.

Tharoor is reportedly "upset" after being publicly sidelined by Rahul Gandhi and state leaders during a 'Mahapanchayat' event in Kochi earlier this week. His absence from the Delhi meeting—specifically called to plot the strategy for the upcoming 2026 Kerala Assembly Elections—is viewed as a direct signal to the central leadership that the four-time MP refuses to be taken for granted.

The Context (How We Got Here)

• The Trigger (Jan 19): At the Kochi event, protocol was allegedly breached when junior leaders were invited to speak after Tharoor (despite assurances otherwise). The tipping point came when Rahul Gandhi failed to acknowledge Tharoor by name in his address, despite Tharoor being one of the few CWC members on the dais.
• The Build-up: Tharoor has faced months of sniper fire from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership, who view his independent popularity and occasional praise for PM Modi's foreign policy as "undisciplined."
• The Contrast (Jan 23): While Congress brass met in Delhi, Tharoor remained in Thiruvananthapuram. His presence in the city during PM Modi’s massive roadshow created an awkward visual for the Congress, intensifying rumors (which Tharoor has denied) of a soft corner for the BJP.

The Key Players (Who & So What)

• Shashi Tharoor (MP & CWC Member): The dissenter. He represents the "urban, educated face" of the party that wins swing seats. His rebellion signals that the "High Command" culture is clashing with leaders who have their own mass base.
• Sandeep Dikshit (Senior Leader): The provocateur. When asked about Tharoor’s absence, Dikshit remarked that "relevant people" were attending the Delhi meeting—a stinging public dismissal of Tharoor’s utility to the election strategy.
• Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition): The center of the storm. His alleged "snub" in Kochi is being read as a signal that the party prefers "organization men" (cadre loyalists) over independent-minded MPs like Tharoor.

The BIGSTORY Reframe (Mass Base vs. Cadre Base)

The media is framing this as "Ego vs. Discipline," but the real story is the structural crisis of the Kerala Congress.

• The Friction: Tharoor wins Thiruvananthapuram not because of the Congress cadre, but despite them. He commands a "Presidential" vote share among neutrals and the middle class. The traditional party warlords (like K. Sudhakaran and V.D. Satheesan) resent this because they cannot control him.
• The Purge: The "snub" wasn't an accident; it was likely a "sizing down" operation. With Assembly tickets to be distributed soon, the state unit wants to ensure Tharoor’s loyalists are kept out of the fray. Tharoor’s "strike" today is his way of reminding them that without his "urban appeal," the UDF coalition struggles to cross the majority mark.

The Implications (Why This Matters)

• Election Risk: The 2026 Kerala election is an existential battle for the Congress (to reclaim its southern fortress). Alienating its most popular global face gives the ruling LDF—and the encroaching BJP—a powerful weapon to target the "aspirational" voter.
• The BJP Angle: While Tharoor has dismissed rumors of joining the BJP, his continued isolation pushes him into a corner. If the Congress denies him a role in the Assembly campaign, he may simply choose to "sit out" the election, which alone could cost the Congress 5-6 urban seats.

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If a four-time MP and former UN diplomat is considered "irrelevant" by his own party's strategy team, is the Congress fighting the opposition, or is it fighting talent?

FAQs

1. Why did Shashi Tharoor skip the Congress strategy meeting on Jan 23, 2026? Tharoor's office cited his prior commitments at the Kerala Literature Festival and the need to be present for PM Modi’s visit to his constituency. However, sources confirm he skipped it in protest after being sidelined at a party event in Kochi.
2. What happened between Shashi Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi in Kochi? During a 'Mahapanchayat' event on Jan 19, Tharoor was reportedly upset because junior leaders spoke out of turn, and Rahul Gandhi did not acknowledge Tharoor’s presence in his speech, despite Tharoor being a CWC member on the stage.
3. What did Sandeep Dikshit say about Shashi Tharoor? When asked about Tharoor’s absence from the strategy meeting, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit remarked, "All the strong and senior leaders... those who are relevant to the Congress are coming," implying Tharoor was not essential.
4. Will Shashi Tharoor join the BJP? There is no official confirmation. While rumors spiked due to his presence in Thiruvananthapuram during the PM's visit, Tharoor recently stated he has "never deviated from the party line" and remains a Congress MP.

Sources

News Coverage

• Financial Express: Tharoor ‘upset’ with Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Kochi snub’, skips key Congress meet
• Economic Times: Sandeep Dikshit takes dig at Tharoor's absence: "Relevant people are coming"

Context & Analysis

• Kerala Literature Festival: Official Schedule: Shashi Tharoor Speaker Profile Jan 22-23