The ongoing disagreement between Congress and MP Shashi Tharoor over his participation in the Nilambur bypoll campaign took a new turn as Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph denied Tharoor’s claim of not being invited. Joseph confirmed that Tharoor’s name was officially included in the party’s star campaigner list submitted to the Election Commission for the bypoll. However, he attributed Tharoor’s absence to his overseas commitments and time spent in Delhi during the campaign period.

Joseph pointed out that other senior Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala and Kodikunnil Suresh, actively campaigned for the party candidate Aryadan Shoukath, while only former leader AK Antony was absent. “We had officially published the list and submitted it to the Election Commission. It included Shashi Tharoor’s name. He was abroad most of the time, and then in Delhi. I don’t know if he even came to Kerala,” Joseph said. He refrained from further comments on the issue.

Tharoor had earlier stated that he was never invited to campaign for the Nilambur bypoll and attributed his absence to an official diplomatic tour abroad, which included visits to five countries as part of an all-party delegation. Upon returning, he said the party leadership did not urge him to participate, highlighting a lack of communication. While downplaying the idea of a major rift with Congress, Tharoor acknowledged “some differences.” His recent remarks praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the diplomatic tour drew criticism from within the party, further intensifying speculation about internal discord