Shashi Tharoor Skips Key Congress Meet, Fuels Speculation of Growing Rift Ahead of Kerala Polls

• Shashi Tharoor was absent from a crucial Congress high command meeting in Delhi to strategize for the upcoming Kerala assembly elections.
• Sources suggest Tharoor is upset with both state and national party leadership following an incident at a Kochi event on January 19.
• Tharoor was reportedly angered by his seating arrangement at the Kochi event, where he, a CWC member, was placed at the back of the stage.
• Despite preparing a brief speech as instructed, other leaders spoke at length after Rahul Gandhi, further displeasing Tharoor.
• Rahul Gandhi's omission of Tharoor's name in his speech at the Kochi event also contributed to Tharoor's dissatisfaction.

Why It Matters: Shashi Tharoor's absence from a key meeting and alleged grievances signal a potential rift within Congress.