‘Which party is he with?’: Congress insiders question apparent BJP bonhomie after Tharoor tops CM preference survey

As Kerala moves closer to the 2026 Assembly elections, internal conflict has surfaced within the state Congress unit after a survey projected senior leader Shashi Tharoor as the most preferred Chief Ministerial face among United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders.

The pre-poll survey, conducted by Vote Vibe, drew reactions from senior Congress leaders, notably from Congress Working Committee member K. Muraleedharan, who cast doubts on Tharoor’s loyalty. “He should first decide which party he belongs to,” Muraleedharan said, in response to Tharoor’s social media post sharing the survey results with a folded hands emoji.

What did the survey reveal?

The Vote Vibe survey collected responses from over 10,000 participants across Kerala. It reflected growing dissatisfaction with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), with nearly 48 per cent of respondents expressing anti-incumbency sentiment towards Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The discontent was noted to increase with age.

Among UDF supporters, Shashi Tharoor led as the preferred CM candidate with 28.3 per cent support. Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan followed at 15.4 per cent. On the LDF side, former Health Minister K.K. Shailaja outpolled Vijayan, who registered only 17.5 per cent.

Despite the figures, Muraleedharan insisted, “The chief minister will be from the UDF” if the alliance secures power, adding that candidate selection follows the party’s internal framework—not public surveys.

Why is Tharoor under criticism?

Tharoor’s growing visibility has drawn both praise and scrutiny. His recent comments on multiple sensitive issues have sparked discomfort among party ranks. These include his take on the Pahalgam terror attack, a newspaper article on the Emergency—where he criticised Indira and Sanjay Gandhi for human rights violations—and remarks suggesting the RSS has distanced itself from its past preference for Manusmriti over the Constitution.

He also drew attention for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Operation Sindoor. In a published article, Tharoor described Modi’s “energy” and “dynamism” as beneficial to India’s global image. The article was shared by the Prime Minister’s Office, prompting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to issue a veiled criticism: “We say nation first, but some consider Modi first, country later.”

Defending his views, Tharoor said they represented national interest, not political allegiance. His cryptic social media post—“Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one”—only deepened speculation within the party.

Congress caught between popularity and party line

Although Tharoor enjoys popularity beyond the party’s traditional voter base, several Congress leaders in Kerala perceive his independent commentary as misaligned with the official party line. Insider sources suggest such repeated deviations cause confusion during a key election build-up.

With Assembly elections slated for April next year, the Congress is walking a tightrope—balancing the rising appeal of a charismatic but contentious leader against the collective needs of the party.

As V.D. Satheesan steers clear of direct comments, the widening rift within the Congress is becoming increasingly visible, potentially impacting electoral strategy and messaging. Tharoor’s prominence may be rising, but it is also testing the party’s cohesion at a crucial moment.