Shashi Tharoor skips key Congress meet: Rift before Kerala assembly elections?

This episode of Newstrack focusses on the deepening internal friction within the Congress party in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. From praising Prime Minister Modi in the past, to now, sources suggest he had to give precedence to the Prime Minister's Kerala visit over Congress's own poll meeting. He is reportedly miffed with both the state leadership and the central command. So, is there a rift in Congress before the Kerala assembly elections?  Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala downplayed the rift, claiming Tharoor had prior commitments at a literary forum. However, the report highlights past instances where Tharoor’s praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LK Advani caused friction with the party brass. The discussion, featuring Shehzad Poonawalla and Sanjay Jha, explores whether the Congress can afford to alienate a prominent face like Tharoor as the BJP gains ground in urban Kerala, particularly following their performance in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections.