Shashi Tharoor has clarified the Congress party’s stance on the process of selecting the next Chief Minister of Kerala, emphasizing that the decision ultimately rests with the party’s central leadership after election results are declared.
Responding to speculation about whether a Member of Parliament could become Chief Minister, Tharoor said he would not be drawn into hypothetical discussions. Instead, he outlined the Congress party’s established procedure. According to him, once results are out, elected MLAs will be consulted by a representative of the party president, who will assess their preferences. The feedback is then conveyed to the party high command in Delhi, which takes the final call.
Tharoor underscored that there are no rigid rules limiting the choice, leaving the leadership free to select any suitable candidate based on political considerations and consensus among legislators.
Turning to the broader political landscape, Tharoor highlighted what he described as a potentially historic shift. He pointed out that if the Congress returns to power in Kerala, it could mark the first time that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) would not be in power in any state across India.
Drawing a comparison to 2011, he noted that while the LDF lost power in both Kerala and West Bengal then, it still retained control in Tripura. However, in the current scenario, Tharoor suggested that a defeat in Kerala would leave the Left without governance in any Indian state—an outcome he termed a significant political development.
The remarks come amid heightened political anticipation in Kerala, where electoral outcomes are expected to shape not just state leadership but also influence the national political narrative.
