At the meeting, Satheesan is learned to have asked Tharoor to be active in the election campaign and participate in preparing the manifesto and vision statement.
File Photo: IANS
Senior Congress leader and Opposition leader in the Kerala assembly, VD Satheesan, paid a surprise visit to the Thiruvananthapuram MP at his flat in Vazhuthacaud here on Saturday and held discussions on preparations for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.
At the meeting, Satheesan is learned to have asked Tharoor to be active in the election campaign and participate in preparing the manifesto and vision statement. Tharoor has promised to actively campaign across Kerala and take part in drafting the manifesto and vision document.
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Speaking to the media, Tharoor said there is only one party in his life and that his objective is the victory of the Congress and the UDF. “That is what I am working for,” he said.
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Satheesan’s meeting with Tharoor is being viewed as a major tactical move aimed at projecting unity in the Congress ahead of the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. The Opposition leader’s outreach to potential rival faction, especially engaging Tharoor for the election campaign and manifesto drafting, is a calculated move to present a united front. It effectively dampens speculation about internal rifts and signals a high-command-backed effort to curb internal discord before the crucial poll battle.
By bringing Tharoor closer to the centre of campaigning, Satheesan aims to leverage Tharoor’s appeal among professionals and youth to counter the LDF’s narrative. Satheesan’s recent stances show he is maintaining a tough position against the CPM, focusing on issues like the “martyr fund” embezzlement, the Vizhinjam port, and the K-Rail project, positioning himself as a strong Opposition leader.
Satheesan’s visit cannot be considered just as a formal meeting; it is, in fact, a calculated, high-level political intervention aimed at merging divergent factions into a single, cohesive campaign team for the 2026 polls. It signals a formal “thaw” after weeks of speculation regarding Tharoor’s future and internal friction within the state leadership.
In his talks with Satheesan, Tharoor has committed to an active role, including drafting the election manifesto and vision document. The Congress and UDF plan to use his appeal to engage youth and professionals, demographics often seen as critical for countering the LDF narrative.
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