Shashi Tharoor back in spotlight: Congress hands him key role in Kerala poll campaign

While Ramesh Chennithala will lead the campaign committee, Shashi Tharoor will serve as co-chairman.

• Shashi Tharoor named co-chairman of Kerala Congress campaign team
• Tharoor's role seen as key after resolving party differences
• Kerala Assembly polls expected to be a three-way contest in 2026

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After months of strained relations with the party followed by a recent rapprochement, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been given a pivotal role in the run-up to the Kerala Assembly elections. He has been appointed co-chairman of the Congress campaign committee — a move widely viewed as an effort to leverage his national profile and strong appeal among urban and younger voters in the state.

Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala  has been named the chairman of the party’s campaign committee.

Tharoor’s inclusion is being seen as significant, coming shortly after his meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi to resolve internal differences. After the interaction, Tharoor had said that “all is good” and that the leadership was united.

Since then, the Thiruvananthapuram MP has taken on a more prominent role, including initiating the debate on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha and publicly articulating the party’s position on key issues.

In a statement, the Congress said Kharge approved the formation of both the campaign committee and the manifesto committee of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee ahead of the Assembly elections, expected in April-May.

While Chennithala will lead the campaign committee, Tharoor will serve as co-chairman. Shafi Parambil has been appointed convenor, with Hibi Eden, Roji M John, C R Mahesh, Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Ramya Haridas, M Liju and Deepthi Mary Varghese as members.

For the manifesto committee, MP Benny Behanan has been named chairman, with Kodikkunnil Suresh as co-chairman. Dean Kuriakose and Jebi Mather will serve as members.

Sources described Tharoor’s recent meeting with the party leadership as “comprehensive”, addressing a range of concerns. He had earlier expressed displeasure over his treatment at a Kochi event and alleged attempts to sideline him in state politics. However, those issues now appear to have been resolved, and he is expected to play a key role in the party’s Kerala campaign.

The upcoming Kerala polls are critical for the Congress as it seeks to return to power after 10 years in opposition and challenge the incumbent Left government.

The state is set to witness a fierce three-pronged contest in its Assembly elections 2026, with the ruling LDF, led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, challenged by the UDF and the BJP-led NDA.