New Delhi: Latest tinkering and ‘all’s well’ moments Shashi Tharoor and congress The high command has given the Kerala Congress a much-needed impetus ahead of the assembly elections in April-May. Tharoor’s meeting with Mallikarjun Kharge Rahul Gandhi After weeks of speculation about his strained relationship with the party, New Delhi put an end to what many within the Congress party called an “embarrassing episode” and positioned him as a core campaign representative for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).The settlement has given the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) new cohesion and impetus at a time when it is battling incumbent fatigue and the BJP is testing the limits of its expansion in the state.ALSO READ | Congress vs Tharoor: A new beginning or a temporary truce?“Everything is fine” at the critical momentTharoor’s recent thaw with the Congress has sent a strong message of unity to cadres and allies at a critical time. Tharoor was reportedly upset with the treatment given to him by Rahul Gandhi at a recent event in Kochi and the attempts by some leaders to sideline him in Kerala.For a party that has often been in crisis due to factional fighting in its state unit, the situation in Kerala is devastating.Reconciliation addresses this issue head-on. Parliamentary opposition leader VD Satheesan’s faction and leaders seen as sympathetic to Tharoor now have little room for parallel centers of power.The enthusiasm also saved Congress from embarrassment in front of its own SDF allies.Last year, as Tharoor pointed out that there was a “lack of leadership” in the party in Kerala, Indian Muslim League (IUML) president Sadiq Ali Thangal publicly asked the Congress to resolve internal differences, warning that apparent discord would only benefit rivals. That concern has now been allayed by restoring Tharoor’s confidence.This drive for unity is crucial to the election.Since the late 1980s, Kerala voters have switched governments between the UDF and LDF every five years. However, the situation changed in the 2021 assembly polls, with the LDF failing to make headway and Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF winning for a second consecutive term.The LDF’s seats increased from 91 seats in 2016 to 99 seats in 2021, while the UDF’s seats fell from 47 seats to 41 seats.Tharoor’s voter appealIn the 2021 Assembly polls, the biggest impetus for the LDF sweep comes from the Travancore region, which includes Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. The LDF won majority seats in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, two traditionally swing districts. Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor’s Lok Sabha seat, has also historically been a swing constituency, alternating between the Congress and the Left, and has recently become a target seat for the BJP. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the Bharatiya Janata Party faced Tharoor, but the Congress leader retained the seat for the fourth time with over 16,000 votes. The UDF swept 18 of the 20 Lok Sabha seats.Tharoor’s appeal is particularly pronounced among educated, salaried and first-time voters, groups that have shown increasing volatility in recent state and local elections. This group has not consistently aligned itself with the Congress organization and has at times embraced the BJP’s urban outreach or vigilante governance propositions. Tharoor’s continued victory in Trivandrum demonstrates his ability to stem the tide even as broader party trends are mixed.At a strategic level, this provides the UDF with a way to expand without alienating its traditional social base. Urban centers like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode, where turnout is more volatile and the margins tend to be smaller, could play a huge role by 2026. Tharoor’s presence gives the Congress a more credible bid for these spaces, especially at a time when the BJP has signaled its intentions through rising municipal gains and recent mayoral victories.The Congress leadership’s decision to spearhead the campaign with Tharoor touring all 140 constituencies has added star power to a campaign that often hinges on narrative dominance. Tharoor’s oratory, media clout and ability to articulate local issues in national and global contexts give the UDF an edge in appealing to undecided voters.Refuting the claims of LDF and BJPThis patch immediately undercuts the competitor’s narrative. For the BJP, the rapprochement weakens the “internal chaos” line of attack. The BJP has repeatedly highlighted infighting in the Congress to project itself as a disciplined alternative (and has frequently used Tharoor’s name recently).Meanwhile, the BJP is looking to capitalize on its recent victory as mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, a symbolic breakthrough that signals the city’s growing appeal, although success at the assembly level remains elusive.Moreover, Tharoor’s active participation in the election campaign may help the UDF attract the youth, especially the aspirant and educated youth. The Congress leader’s credibility as a writer, diplomat and global speaker also gives him unique appeal among Kerala voters, given the state’s high literacy rate.The LDF and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance have also often portrayed the Congress as dynastic and directionless. The image of Tharoor standing side by side with Rahul Gandhi will undermine these claims, at least for now.Risks contained, momentum restoredPerhaps the most immediate benefit of settlement is risk reduction. Speculations that Tharoor might turn to vigilantes or even explore non-Congress platforms have been firmly refuted. His integration into the congressional campaign delivered a message of consistency.For congressional strategists, the memory of 2021 is still fresh. Despite favorable anti-incumbency indicators at the time, the Democratic Alliance failed to convert its chances into victory. Tharoor’s tinkering is seen as a corrective measure to ensure that organizational weaknesses do not squander political opportunities again.By restoring unity, the Congress’s rapprochement with Tharoor provides a credible opportunity for the opposition UDF to turn a new leaf after years of Left rule. Whether that translates into electoral seats will depend on execution, alliances and local dynamics, but for now, riding on the image of “Hum Saath Saath Hai”, the UDF has secured an early and much-needed victory heading into the elections.
