**Shashi Tharoor’s Absence Raises Concerns Within Congress Party**
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was notably absent from a meeting of the party’s Lok Sabha MPs led by Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, reigniting discussions about his frequent non-attendance at significant party gatherings. While sources within the party indicated that Tharoor had notified leadership of his unavailability beforehand, the Congress chief whip expressed uncertainty regarding the reasons for his absence.
Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha, was also missing from the meeting alongside Chandigarh MP Manish Tiwari. His public schedule revealed that he was in Kolkata the previous night for an event organized by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation, suggesting he may not have returned to Delhi in time for the meeting.
This incident follows Tharoor’s recent clarification regarding his absence from a Congress strategic group meeting on November 30, where he stated he was on a flight from Kerala at the time. “I did not skip it; I was on a plane, coming from Kerala,” he explained on December 1, addressing the attention his absence garnered within the party.
Concerns about Tharoor’s pattern of non-attendance have been amplified by his previous absence from a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue, which he attributed to health reasons. His office noted that he was traveling with his elderly mother and could not arrive in Delhi on time. Notably, Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal also missed that meeting due to campaigning for local body elections in Kerala.
Despite Tharoor’s explanations, some Congress leaders are increasingly uneasy about his growing list of absences, particularly after he was the sole Congress representative invited to a state banquet for visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin. This invitation led to internal speculation, with Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera commenting on the implications of such selective invitations.
Tharoor’s absences have sparked discussions within the party, even as he maintains that each instance was due to prior commitments or unavoidable circumstances. While the Congress leadership has not publicly addressed the issue, the recurring nature of Tharoor’s absences has contributed to a sense of discomfort among certain MPs, especially as the party aims to project unity during the Winter Session of Parliament.
**FAQ**
**Why has Shashi Tharoor been absent from key Congress meetings?**
Shashi Tharoor has cited prior commitments and unavoidable circumstances for his absences from key Congress meetings, including travel and health-related issues.
