THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader from Kerala, Shashi Tharoor, finds himself in the eye of a raging political storm.

The controversy-prone MP from Thiruvananthapuram has, once again, kicked up a flaming row over his Modi-friendly statement. Tharoor’s remark that there is no need to criticise the Prime Minister round the clock has incurred the wrath of Congress leaders from the State. When he does something right, as is the case with his decision to nullify Article 370, there is no harm in praising the PM. Tharoor was only supporting Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Abhishek Manu Slinghvi who said the same thing.

This was enough to set the Congress leaders on edge. Enraged Congress leaders vent their spleen on Tharoor with a vengeance as it were. Throor had n o business making the kind of atrocious statement that he did, especially at a time when the Congress needs to remain totally focussed on the difficult task of occupying the Opposition space at the national level.

Leading the chorus of criticism was none other than Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Mullappally Ramachandran, who said he was at a loss to understand the reason for the sudden change of mind Tharoor has had. Mullappally went on to liken Tharoor to Abdulla Kutty, a former Congressman who was expelled from the party for lavishing praise on Prime Minister Modi. Abdulla Kutty has since joined the BJP.

Is Tharoor set on the same path? This is the question agitated Congress leaders, including leader of the Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala and TN Prathapan, MP from Thrissur, are asking.

The most stringent criticism has come from Vadakara MP, K. Muraleedharan.

If Tharoor cannot resist the temptation to praise Modi, he must then join that party. If he refused to make amends,  Tharoor would be boycotted by the party, Murali warned. The war of words between the two senior leaders is going on, with no sign of a ‘ceasefire’!

But, the, Tharoor is no stranger to controversy. His proclivity to make controversial statements with unfailing regularity has landed him in trouble on a number of occasions in the past.  

For example, his remark that the Congress has become rudderless at the national level ever since Rahul Gandhi decided to step down as AICC president had drawn flak from Congress leaders across the nation.

The KPCC has since sought an explanation from Tharoor, who does not seem to be in a mood to withdrawn the statement. If his latest statements are anything to go by, the man is in a defiant mood. In his reply to Mullappally and K. Muraleedharan, he implied that he was in n o need to be taught politics by the Kerala leaders!       

To be fair to Tharoor, but for the occasional praise for Modi, he has been the most vehement critic of the Prime Minister inside the Lok Sabha. Tharoor has also made it abundantly clear that he won’t join the BJP.

However, his detractors in Kerala seem bent upon humiliating him. The KPCC would do well to remember that the Congress simply cannot afford the luxury of losing the services of a senior leader like Tharoor at this crucial juncture when the party needs to marshal all the opposition parties to firm up the fight against the ruling BJP-RSS combine.

The leadership should not push him to the point of no return, bowing to the clamour for action from the man‘s detractors.

On his part, Tharoor must also curb his proclivity to make off-the-cuff remarks, which are at odds with the official party line. The need of the hour is not drastic action. It is of utmost importance that both sides exercise restraint in words and deeds. That way lies salvation for the Congress, which has to face daunting challenges ahead.