Kozhikode: Former KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran has alleged that the CPM is deliberately amplifying the Tharoor issue for its own advantage, dismissing the ongoing controversies as "nothing more than a storm in a teacup."

Speaking to reporters at an event commemorating former Congress leader M. Shankaran, Mullappally said, "The current political scenario is favourable for the Congress to win the elections... The ongoing controversies surrounding Tharoor are nothing more than a storm in a teacup. If there are any issues, they should be resolved within the party itself. It is the CPM that is trying to blow up this issue for its own benefit."

Earlier, a political row erupted in Kerala over the CPM central leadership’s document, which suggests that the Modi government cannot be outrightly termed as fascist. The issue has triggered heated debates, with the Congress criticising the party, the BJP welcoming the stance, and the CPI demanding a revision.

Commenting on the controversy, Mullappally said, "In their policy document, they stated that there is no need to view the ruling Sangh Parivar government at the Centre as fascist. What kind of policy shift is that? The CPM should clearly disclose how they assess the BJP."

In a recent Malayalam podcast, Tharoor criticised Congress' strategy in Kerala. Tharoor had remarked that if the party did not work to expand its appeal, it would face its third consecutive defeat in the state. He also stated that many party workers felt there was a lack of leadership within the Kerala unit of Congress.

The controversy intensified after Tharoor posted a quote from poet Thomas Gray on his X account on Saturday: “Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.”

Tharoor, who has been elected MP from Thiruvananthapuram four times, also suggested that if Congress no longer needed his services, he had “other options,” including speaking engagements and writing books.