Tharoor stays silent on CPI(M) leanings but vows direct talks with Congress leaders

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, refused to comment on reports suggesting his speculative leanings towards the CPI(M), but clarified that his absence from the high-level Congress meeting in New Delhi was just a matter of bad timing.

Also read: LDF leader TP Ramakrishnan denies meeting Shashi Tharoor about joining CPI(M)

Responding to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Tharoor said he planned to speak “directly” to party leaders about his views and that the Parliament session starting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 would be the perfect time for these discussions.

The Congress Working Committee member addressed speculation that he had rejected the party’s “strategic meeting” held at party senior leader Sonia Gandhi’s residence in the national capital earlier in the day.

According to Mr. Tharoor, the invitation came too late for him to change his plans.

“I was invited to the strategic meeting just a day or two ago,” he explained. “By then I had already booked my flight back from Dubai,” he added. He also blamed the media for speculative news.

On Monday, January 26, 2026, Mr. Tharoor said he had seen reports claiming that he held meetings with people associated with the CPI(M) in Dubai, but he refused to comment on the matter.

While the ruling CPI(M) dismissed questions about any discussion of Mr Tharoor joining the party as mere speculation, the Congress maintained that he was a senior leader, any issues he might have would be resolved and denied leaving the grand erstwhile organization.