Shashi Tharoor to miss VD Satheesan’s swearing-in as Kerala chief minister; here’s why

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday said he would not attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala on May 18.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP made the announcement through a post on X.

Tharoor revealed that he would be in the United States during the swearing-in ceremony.

In his X post, Tharoor said he was travelling to Boston to deliver the commencement address at the graduation ceremony of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, his alma mater. He also said he would attend the 50th anniversary reunion of his graduating class during the visit.

Calling it “an occasion for celebrating the past in the US”, Tharoor added that he was also looking ahead “to the future in Kerala”.

On Thursday, Tharoor congratulated Satheesan after he was chosen as leader of the Congress Legislature Party and named Kerala’s next Chief Minister.

In his message, Tharoor described Satheesan’s elevation as recognition of his political journey, commitment and service to the Congress and the people of Kerala. He also said he had campaigned alongside Satheesan and was pleased over his appointment.

Tharoor also stressed that the election result should be seen as a collective mandate for the UDF alliance rather than an individual victory.

He said every senior leader in the alliance had a responsibility to ensure that the new government met public expectations. He added that the alliance’s strength came from its diversity and said all constituents should work together for a prosperous, just and forward-looking Kerala.

The Congress MP further said the people of Kerala had placed their trust in the alliance and that leaders should work together to honour that mandate.