Shashi Tharoor to skip VD Satheesan swearing-in ceremony in Kerala; here’s the reason

As Kerala gears up for the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan on Monday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will be notably absent from the event in Thiruvananthapuram.

The senior Congress leader, however, ensured his absence did not go unnoticed. In a social media post on Friday, Tharoor said he would be travelling to Boston to deliver the commencement address at the graduation ceremony of his alma mater, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He also said he would be attending the 50th anniversary reunion of his graduating class. The timing and wording of the post quickly triggered political chatter in Kerala Congress circles.

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“An occasion for celebrating the past in the US even as I look forward to the future in Kerala,” Tharoor wrote on X.

The remark assumes significance at a time when the Thiruvananthapuram MP appears to have regained political momentum within the Congress after a phase of strained relations with sections of the state leadership.

Tharoor’s campaign trail drew crowds across Kerala

During the recently concluded Assembly election campaign, Tharoor emerged as one of the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s most visible campaigners. Party candidates across districts were keen to have him at rallies and public meetings, banking on his popularity among younger and urban voters.

From north Kerala to the southern districts, Tharoor addressed packed gatherings through the campaign period. His speeches, often marked by humour and sharp political messaging, attracted sizeable crowds and generated strong engagement on social media as well.

Within the Congress, there is also increasing acknowledgement that Tharoor’s appeal stretches beyond his Thiruvananthapuram parliamentary constituency. Several leaders privately admit that his national profile and communication style helped energise cadres during the high-voltage election campaign.

Congress circles watch Tharoor’s next political move

Even though Tharoor will miss the swearing-in ceremony, his recent political positioning continues to attract attention in Kerala politics.

His growing proximity to the Congress high command and his prominent role during the election campaign have fuelled speculation about a larger role for him in the state unit in the coming years.

The Congress leader, however, has not publicly commented on any future political plans beyond his cryptic social media remark.