Congress MP Shashi Tharoor accuses INDIA ally CPI of ‘helping’ BJP in his constituency, D Raja hits back

Shashi Tharoor says CPI’s campaign against him in Thiruvananthapuram would ‘divide anti-BJP vote’. CPI's D Raja points to Wayanad, asks why Rahul has been fielded against CPI candidate.

Logos of Congress and Communist Party of India | Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi: A war of words has broken out between Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D. Raja over who was “helping” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It started with the MP from Thiruvananthapuram attacking the CPI for playing the “BJP’s game” in his constituency.

“It’s ironic that the same CPI that complains about Rahul Gandhi’s candidature in Wayanad is playing the BJP’s game in Thiruvananthapuram. The only effect of the CPI’s campaign against me in Thiruvananthapuram is to divide the anti-BJP vote. And they preach alliance dharma in Wayanad!” Tharoor wrote on X.

Rahul Gandhi is the sitting MP from Wayanad.

It’s ironic that the same @cpofindia that complains about @RahulGandhi’s candidature in Wayanad is playing the BJP’s game in Thiruvananthapuram. The only effect of the CPI’s campaign against me in Thiruvananthapuram is to divide the anti-BJP vote. And they preach alliance dharma…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 19, 2024

Raja, whose wife Annie Raja is contesting against Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, hit back saying, “Whatever has happened to the Congress, whatever has happened to the democracy in the country… Mr Shashi Tharoor and people like him should take responsibility. The way they speak! We can also accuse him of helping BJP by fighting LDF.”

Raja said nobody could challenge “the commitment of the Communist movement in fighting right-wing fascist political parties”. “Mr Shashi Tharoor should look in the mirror… Why are Congress party workers leaving the party and joining BJP? What is the politics behind this,” Raja said.

VIDEO | Here's what CPI leader D Raja (@ComradeDRaja) said on Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s ‘CPI is playing the BJP's game in Thiruvananthapuram’ remark.

"I strongly condemn this statement. He (Shashi Tharoor) thinks he is a well-educated man but he should know the history of… pic.twitter.com/4r5CCtdKzc

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 19, 2024

He attacked Rahul Gandhi for standing against a Left candidate. Raja said, “Rahul Gandhi has done two yatras. He is giving the message that he is spearheading the attack on communal fascist forces. But when it comes to an electoral battle, why should the Congress party field him against LDF (Left Democratic Front)? Against a Left candidate? What message is Congress trying to give?”

He added that while the Congress conducts campaigns against BJP and RSS, Rahul was not confronting the BJP directly in a constituency in the next polls.  “Why did you choose to fight against a Left candidate? What message are you giving?” he asked.

Taking strong objection to Tharoor’s remark, Raja said, “I strongly condemn this statement. He (Shashi Tharoor) thinks he is a well-educated man but he should know the history of Kerala and the Indian communist movement.”

(Edited by Tikli Basu)