Shashi Tharoor Skips Key Congress Meet Again, Raising Internal Concerns Over Repeated Absences

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s repeated absence from key party meetings is drawing increasing attention within the Congress, fuelling speculation about his alignment and commitment at a time when the party is attempting to project unity during the Winter Session of Parliament. On Friday, Tharoor did not attend a meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs chaired by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, marking his third consecutive absence from major internal discussions.

Party sources said Tharoor had informed the leadership beforehand, though the chief whip stated he was unaware of the reason for his non-attendance. The Thiruvananthapuram MP has been under heightened scrutiny from the central leadership in recent months, particularly after remarks interpreted by some within the Congress as being sympathetic toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Tharoor’s absence on Friday was accompanied by that of Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. According to his public schedule, Tharoor was in Kolkata on Thursday night to attend an event organised by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation, suggesting that he may not have been able to return to Delhi in time for the meeting.

This instance follows earlier controversies surrounding his attendance. After missing the Congress strategic group meeting on November 30, Tharoor clarified that he had been on a flight from Kerala and had not skipped the meeting intentionally. “I did not skip it; I was on a plane, coming from Kerala,” he said on December 1, after reports of his absence triggered internal unease.

There have been additional occasions on which Tharoor was absent. He did not attend the party’s discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue earlier, citing ill health. His office explained that he was travelling with his 90-year-old mother and could not reach Delhi on time. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had missed that meeting as well due to local body election campaigning in Kerala.

However, despite these explanations, concerns persist among a section of Congress leaders. Their discomfort grew stronger after Tharoor became the only Congress representative invited to the President’s state banquet for visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin. The unusual exclusivity sparked internal murmurs, with Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera making a pointed remark: “Everyone’s conscience has a voice. When my leaders aren’t invited, but I am, we should understand why the game is being played, who is playing the game, and why we shouldn’t be part of it.”

Although the Congress high command has not publicly commented on the matter, the recurring pattern of absences has led to quiet debates about Tharoor’s positioning within the party—particularly at a time when the Opposition is under pressure to maintain cohesion in Parliament.

For now, the issue remains unresolved, but Tharoor’s continued non-attendance at key gatherings is likely to fuel further speculation within the Congress ranks.