In a recent development, the Congress party in Kerala has expressed strong disapproval of Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor’s commendation of the state’s entrepreneurial progress under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The party’s official publication, Veekshanam Daily, featured an editorial indirectly criticizing Tharoor for his positive remarks, which were perceived as undermining the party’s stance ahead of local body elections.\
Tharoor’s Controversial Remarks
The controversy began when Tharoor authored an article in an English daily, highlighting Kerala’s significant strides in fostering a startup-friendly environment. He praised the state’s remarkable 254% compound annual growth rate in the startup ecosystem between July 2021 and December 2023, surpassing the global average of 46%. Tharoor also lauded Industries Minister P. Rajeeve’s initiative, which allows businesses to commence operations within “two minutes,” and noted Kerala’s improved ranking in the Ease of Doing Business index.
Tharoor’s remarks were seen as a direct acknowledgment of the CPI(M)-led government’s efforts in boosting entrepreneurship and economic development in the state. His article suggested that Kerala was outpacing national and global averages in startup growth, reinforcing the claim that the state has become more business-friendly under the current administration.
Congress’s Rebuttal
Veekshanam Daily’s editorial, titled “Ahimsa Award for the Executioner?”, admonished Tharoor for his comments, suggesting they could jeopardize the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections. The piece emphasized the existing anti-incumbency sentiment and criticized any attempts to suppress it, labeling such actions as “distorted” political practices. The editorial further accused the LDF government of turning Kerala into a “graveyard” for industries, questioning the validity of attributing industrial growth to the current administration.
Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan distanced himself from Tharoor’s views, expressing skepticism about the data supporting the claims of industrial growth. He questioned the basis of Tharoor’s statements, noting that if three lakh enterprises had indeed been established in the past three and a half years, each constituency would have seen the inception of approximately 2,000 new businesses. Satheesan emphasized that small ventures, such as bakeries and shops opened by Gulf returnees, should not be counted as significant enterprises.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also dismissed the notion that Kerala is business-friendly, suggesting that Tharoor may have been misinformed about the state’s industrial climate. He pointed out that while small-scale ventures naturally emerge, including them in the government’s industrial growth statistics is misleading. Chennithala further criticized the LDF for allegedly shutting down industries swiftly, a practice he claimed the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has mastered.
Tharoor’s Clarification
In response to the backlash, Tharoor clarified that his article was not an endorsement of the CPI(M)-led government but rather an acknowledgment of Kerala’s progress in the startup sector. He emphasized the importance of recognizing positive developments, regardless of political affiliations, stating that when the government performs well, it should be acknowledged, and when it falters, it should be criticized. Tharoor maintained that his comments were based on factual data and aimed at highlighting specific achievements in the state’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Tharoor’s defense did little to quell the criticism within his party. Many within Congress viewed his remarks as a deviation from the party’s broader political narrative, which focuses on criticizing the LDF’s governance. Some party insiders expressed concerns that Tharoor’s statements could weaken the opposition’s campaign against the ruling CPI(M) by inadvertently lending credibility to their claims of economic progress.
CPI(M)’s Response
The ruling CPI(M) welcomed Tharoor’s remarks, viewing them as validation of the state’s developmental efforts. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, without directly naming Tharoor, referred to the comments as a factual acknowledgment of Kerala’s infrastructural advancements. He highlighted that a knowledgeable representative had recognized the state’s development as a model for both the country and the world, with statements grounded in concrete data.
CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Tharoor’s statements effectively nullified the opposition’s claims that no significant progress was occurring in the state. He asserted that the opposition’s narrative had been debunked by Tharoor’s acknowledgment of the state’s achievements.
The LDF leaders seized the opportunity to use Tharoor’s words as a political advantage, arguing that even a prominent Congress leader recognized their efforts in industrial development. The party’s social media wings and campaign strategists quickly picked up on Tharoor’s statements, using them as a tool to counter the opposition’s criticisms and strengthen their electoral messaging.
Implications for Congress
Tharoor’s comments have inadvertently provided the LDF with a platform to counter the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) criticisms regarding the state’s development trajectory. The Congress leadership in Kerala now faces the challenge of addressing internal dissent while maintaining a unified front against the ruling party. The incident has sparked discussions about the party’s internal dynamics and the potential need for disciplinary measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As the local body elections approach, the Congress party must navigate the delicate balance between fostering open dialogue among its members and presenting a cohesive stance to the electorate. The outcome of this internal conflict may significantly influence the party’s performance in the upcoming polls and its overall credibility among voters.
Congress leaders now have to decide whether to take a stricter stance against Tharoor or to move past the issue without further controversy. While Tharoor remains a respected intellectual figure within the party, his independent-minded approach has often clashed with the party’s broader strategy. His latest remarks have once again highlighted the ongoing ideological and strategic debates within Congress.
The LDF, on the other hand, has capitalized on this episode, reinforcing its claims of governance and economic progress. The party’s ability to turn Tharoor’s statements into a political advantage demonstrates its tactical efficiency in shaping public perception.
Conclusion
The episode underscores the complexities political parties face in managing diverse viewpoints within their ranks, especially when such perspectives have the potential to impact public perception and electoral success. The Congress party’s response to this situation will likely serve as a precedent for handling similar issues in the future, highlighting the importance of internal cohesion in the realm of competitive politics.
As Kerala’s political landscape continues to evolve, this controversy serves as a reminder of the significance of strategic communication in electoral politics. Whether Congress can recover from this setback and refocus its narrative remains to be seen, but for now, Tharoor’s remarks have added a new dimension to the political discourse in the state.
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