In the midst of this widening gulf between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress, senior party leader K Muraleedharan on Sunday made a bombshell statement that Tharoor would not be invited to any party programme in Thiruvananthapuram until he reverses his position on the national security issue.
Muraleedharan indicated that Tharoor, who is a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, was now no longer "one of us." He further stated that the national leadership of the party would determine the action to be taken against the Congress MP.
"Till he (Tharoor) retracts his stand, we will not extend an invitation to him for any party programme organised in Thiruvananthapuram. He is no longer with us, so there is no question of boycotting an event by him," Muraleedharan stated.
Also read: Shashi Tharoor says cross-party unity often seen as disloyalty
The stern rebuke comes against the backdrop of continued differences in the Congress over Tharoor's open backing of the armed forces and the Centre in the aftermath of recent developments on national security, such as the Pahalgam terror attack.
His stance, which he reaffirmed at a function in Kochi on Saturday, has evoked criticism from party members, with some leaders claiming that he is putting Congress on the back foot. "I will not budge because I think this is the right thing for the country," Tharoor said during the Kochi event, supporting his argument.
He also raised alarm on political parties seeing appeals for cross-party collaboration on national security as acts of disloyalty.
Muraleedharan, however, insisted that Tharoor's words nullify the party's stand. "Until he reverses his stand, we will not make any Congress programmes in Thiruvananthapuram and include him," he said, also adding that the party's national leadership will take a call on any disciplinary action.
The gap has been widened by Tharoor's previous posting of a survey that he is the UDF's most preferred Chief Minister candidate, which was negated by Muraleedharan questioning the loyalty of Tharoor. "He must first make up his mind about the party he belongs to," he said.
As per media reports, Tharoor has also faced criticism from top Congress leaders for his controversial article on Indira Gandhi and the Emergency.
Muraleedharan called the seasoned MP to ask if he still has a place in the Congress, advising him to pick a political direction if he feels hemmed in by the party.
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