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Shashi Tharoor to Contest Lok Sabha Polls from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Kalyani Jha
08 Mar, 2024

In a significant development shaping the electoral landscape of Kerala, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been declared as the Congress candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency. Tharoor, a seasoned parliamentarian, is set to face off against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in what promises to be a closely watched electoral battle.

Expressing gratitude for the party's decision, Tharoor remarked, "I am honoured and humbled that the Congress has given me an opportunity to defend my seat...I look forward to a fair and effective contest." This announcement comes as part of the Congress' first list of candidates unveiled for the impending Lok Sabha elections, which includes prominent leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel, and K Muraleedharan.

Tharoor, who is currently serving his third consecutive term as the Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, brings a wealth of experience to the electoral arena. His tenure as a parliamentarian has been marked by an unwavering commitment to public service and advocacy for progressive policies. Notably, Tharoor has previously held ministerial portfolios as the Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Minister of State for External Affairs in the Congress-led government.

His opponent, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a seasoned politician and Union Minister of State for Information Technology and Skill Development, is poised to make his electoral debut in the Lok Sabha polls. A three-time Rajya Sabha member, Chandrasekhar has emerged as a prominent voice within the Narendra Modi government, advocating for transformative initiatives in the fields of technology and skill development.

Interestingly, both Tharoor and Chandrasekhar hail from Kerala, although neither of them was born in the state. Chandrasekhar, born to Malayali parents in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, traces his ancestral roots to Thrissur district in Kerala. Similarly, Tharoor, born in London to a Malayali couple from Palakkad, Kerala, epitomizes the multicultural ethos of the state.

As the electoral battle heats up in Kerala, the Congress party's strategic deployment of candidates reflects a concerted effort to secure crucial constituencies and bolster its electoral prospects. With the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 scheduled to be held in May, political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, have initiated vigorous campaigning, announcing candidates, and outlining their vision for governance. As the countdown to the elections begins, all eyes will be on Tharoor and Chandrasekhar as they vie for the mandate of the people of Thiruvananthapuram.