Journalism of Courage
Union Minister of State for Human Resource Sashi Tharoor has virtually hit campaign mode in Thiruvananthapuram. Starting Monday, the MP has been on a whistle-stop tour inaugurating works funded by the MP local area development scheme (MPLADS).
It reinforced the belief that Tharoor has ensured a ticket for a second term despite reservations from several quarters. In some parts of the city, graffiti appeared soliciting votes for Tharoor. Last week, KPCC president V M Sudheeran had told party leaders not to declare themselves candidates.
Thiruvananthapuram DCC vice-president George Mercier said Tharoor’s drive may not be a campaign in the strict sense. “But the message is clear. He is telling people he would like to contest. He may have some assurance from the party central leadership. He could have waited for some more time,’’ said Mercier.
Tharoor was not available for comment. But his office said he could not inaugurate 100-odd works under MPLADS for more than a month when he was in mourning after the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.
