Categories
During the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a pointed swipe at political opponents while making a rare public mention of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Addressing the audience in Thiruvananthapuram, PM Modi remarked, “Today, Shashi Tharoor is sitting here. Today’s program will disturb the sleep of some people. The message has gone wherever it had to go.”
The comment, layered with political undertones, sparked renewed attention toward Mr. Tharoor, a four-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, whose rapport with his party’s leadership in Kerala has been under scrutiny in recent months.
Mr. Tharoor’s cordial gesture of receiving PM Modi at the airport—despite delays he attributed to Delhi’s “dysfunctional” airport—had already stirred conversation. He later shared the moment on social media, posting: “Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency.” The post quickly went viral.
This public camaraderie between PM Modi and Mr. Tharoor comes against the backdrop of growing speculation about the Congress leader’s position within the state party. Tharoor has not shied away from expressing frustration over what he describes as a “leadership vacuum” in the Kerala Congress unit. He has also held discussions with top Congress figures, including Rahul Gandhi, to talk about his political future, though no official resolutions have been announced.
The Vizhinjam event itself was significant—not only politically, but economically. The port, developed under a public-private partnership by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., is expected to become a major transshipment hub in international trade. The Rs 8,867 crore project is one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings.
PM Modi, arriving by helicopter, took a detailed tour of the port wearing a safety helmet, signaling the government’s commitment to boosting maritime logistics and coastal development.
While the event marked a leap forward in India’s trade infrastructure, the political undertones—especially the Prime Minister’s subtle dig—ensured that national attention remained not just on the port, but also on the political waves rippling through Kerala.
