Shashi Tharoor, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, has reportedly skipped a crucial party meeting to attend the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in Kozhikode. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting, scheduled for Friday afternoon, January 23, was convened to discuss strategies for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls.

Tharoor's absence has stirred controversy within the party, with some suggesting it was a deliberate snub due to recent events. According to sources, Tharoor felt slighted during a recent Congress event in Kochi where Rahul Gandhi, a leading figure in the party, did not acknowledge or greet him while mentioning other leaders present on stage. This perceived "snub" has reportedly left Tharoor "deeply insulted".

Tharoor's office has stated that his absence from the AICC meeting was due to a prior commitment to attend the KLF, where he was scheduled to speak about his latest book on Sree Narayana Guru. They stated that the party was informed about his unavailability.

However, insiders suggest that Tharoor's decision to prioritize the literary festival over the crucial party meeting reflects a growing rift between him and the Congress leadership. This is not the first time Tharoor has been at odds with the party's top brass, with disagreements on various issues leading to speculation about his future within the Congress. Some observers have even suggested that Tharoor might be emerging as a "rebel extraordinaire" within the party.

Adding fuel to the fire, a video circulating online purportedly shows Rahul Gandhi ignoring Tharoor at the Kochi event. Further exacerbating the situation, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit made a controversial remark about Tharoor's absence, implying that only "relevant" leaders were attending the strategy meeting. Dikshit's statement has been interpreted by some as a deliberate attempt to undermine Tharoor's position within the party.

Tharoor, who began his political career in 2009, has often voiced his opinions on various state and national issues, sometimes to the discomfort of certain Congress leaders. Despite the rumors and speculation, Tharoor has maintained that he remains a Congress MP and has "never deviated from the party line".

This latest episode highlights the ongoing tensions within the Congress party, particularly concerning its approach to the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls. The state election is seen as a critical test for the Congress, and internal discord could hamper its chances of success. While the party faces an uphill battle in states like Assam, unity is crucial.

Whether Tharoor's absence is simply a matter of prior commitments or a sign of deeper dissatisfaction remains to be seen. However, it has undoubtedly added another layer of complexity to the already challenging political landscape for the Congress party.