Shashi Tharoor plans UK-Russia trip as chairman of parliamentary committee without Congress approval

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is embarking on a two-week foreign trip to the UK and Russia as the head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. 

New Delhi: Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is preparing for an upcoming two-week foreign trip to countries including the United Kingdom and Russia. The visit is in his capacity as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and includes scheduled diplomatic meetings. Notably, Tharoor has not informed the Congress party of this trip, nor has he sought formal permission from the party leadership.

Tensions rise over Tharoor’s stance

The Congress high command is reportedly displeased with Tharoor, particularly in light of his recent public statements that diverge from the party line. The leadership suspects deliberate timing behind his remarks — made on the day of the Nilambur by-election — where he stated there were differences between him and the party. This, they believe, weakened the party's position shortly after it had put the CPI(M) on the defensive by raising the RSS connection.

Despite growing dissatisfaction, the leadership has decided to adopt a strategy of ignoring Tharoor’s statements for now. They have also directed national and state-level leaders to refrain from making public comments on the matter. According to insiders, this approach stems from the belief that taking disciplinary action could backfire, giving Tharoor a chance to claim victimhood or draw attention.

Internal dilemma over disciplinary action

Though the party has grounds to take action — including Tharoor's role in the controversial "Operation Sindoor" — leaders remain cautious. While Tharoor had assured Rahul Gandhi three months ago that he would not act against the party’s interests, he is seen as having repeatedly violated that assurance.

Adding to the tension, Tharoor has publicly expressed frustration over the high command’s unwillingness to engage in dialogue regarding his grievances. Yet, those close to him insist he has no intention of leaving the party and is seeking an opportunity to explain his stance directly to the leadership. Whether the high command will agree to such a meeting remains uncertain.

There is also disagreement surrounding Tharoor’s absence from the Nilambur campaign. While allegations have emerged that he was excluded, high command sources deny this, citing standard procedures. They state that the date and time of campaign appearances are usually coordinated with local leadership for those on the star campaigner list — something Tharoor reportedly did not pursue.