Sun Feb 23 12:03:14 UTC 2025: ## Tharoor Deflects Questions on Party Rift Amidst Praise for Kerala Government and Modi

**Dubai, UAE –** Congress MP Shashi Tharoor deflected questions Sunday regarding a potential rift with his party, urging reporters instead to focus on the crucial India-Pakistan cricket match underway in Dubai. Tharoor, MP for Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, offered a terse “no comments” when asked about his relationship with the Congress party.

The questions stem from recent comments Tharoor made praising both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a February 14th article, Tharoor lauded the LDF’s economic policies, specifically highlighting the growth of the startup sector, although crediting former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with initiating the change. While the Left party welcomed the comments, they drew sharp criticism from within the Congress.

Further fueling the controversy, Tharoor also praised Modi’s negotiating skills following US President Trump’s declaration that Modi was a “better negotiator” than himself. Tharoor stated that he made his comments with India’s best interests at heart, adding that prioritizing national interests sometimes necessitates going beyond party lines. Despite the controversy, Tharoor asserted that the debate surrounding his articles had been beneficial, sparking important discussion on Kerala’s economic development.

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