A rift has emerged within the Indian National Congress as senior leader K. Muraleedharan has publicly criticized Shashi Tharoor, a fellow party MP and member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), over his remarks prioritizing national security. Muraleedharan has declared that Tharoor will not be invited to any Congress events held in Thiruvananthapuram until he changes his stance on national security issues.

Muraleedharan's criticism stems from Tharoor's recent statements emphasizing that the nation should come first, and political parties are merely instruments to make the country better. Tharoor made these remarks in response to speculation about a rift with the party leadership after he seemingly praised the Narendra Modi government for Operation Sindoor, stating that national security must take precedence over party politics. He quoted Jawaharlal Nehru, saying, "Who lives if India dies?" to emphasize his position. Tharoor also defended his stance at an event in Kochi, Kerala, asserting that he would stand his ground because he believes prioritizing the nation is the right thing to do.

Muraleedharan, a prominent figure in the Kerala Congress unit and former Union Minister, has asserted that Tharoor is no longer considered "one of us" within the party. He stated that the party's national leadership will decide if any further action is required against Tharoor. "Till he (Tharoor) changes his stance, we will not invite him to any party programme held in Thiruvananthapuram. He is not with us, so there is no question of him boycotting an event," Muraleedharan told reporters.

Tharoor's comments have drawn sharp criticism from within the Congress party, with some leaders believing his expressions of support for the armed forces and the central government on national security issues have weakened the party's position. Tensions have been further fueled by Tharoor's recent article criticizing Indira Gandhi's handling of the Emergency, which sparked backlash within party ranks. Muraleedharan has suggested that if Tharoor feels constrained within the Congress, he should choose a "clear political path".

This is not the first time Muraleedharan has publicly criticized Tharoor. Previously, he took a dig at Tharoor for sharing a survey that suggested he was the United Democratic Front's most preferred candidate for chief minister, questioning which party he belonged to.

The escalating feud between Tharoor and the Kerala Congress leadership has raised questions about Tharoor's future in the party and further complicated Congress's unity efforts in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The controversy comes at a critical time for the Congress and the INDIA bloc, as they prepare to challenge the Modi government in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, where they are expected to raise concerns about security lapses and question the outcomes of Operation Sindoor.