Shashi Tharoor Excluded From Congress's Nilambur Campaigners List, Says He 'Wasn't Invited'

Last Updated:June 19, 2025, 14:35 IST

Shashi Tharoor has been excluded from the party's star campaigners list for the Nilambur by-poll, reportedly after he alleged he wasn’t invited to campaign.

A file photo of Shashi Tharoor (PTI)

Congress has reportedly excluded MP Shashi Tharoor from its list of star campaigners for the by-poll for the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala.

The development, according to media reports, came after Tharoor alleged he was not invited by his party to campaign in Nilambur.

The Congress MP had publicly expressed displeasure, explaining why he did not go for the election campaign there.

“In Wayanad, there was a sign of campaigning for Priyanka (Gandhi). It is true that there are some differences of opinion with the present Congress leadership, but responding more will not put the party in crisis on election day," Tharoor was quoted as saying.

“I was not invited by the party for campaigning, but that’s alright, because I too, at that time, was abroad," he said, referring to his delegation’s visit to significant world capitals to highlight India’s stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.

“I want to wish our candidate only the best. I have known him for a long time personally. The congress cadres who went from Trivandrum informed me the campaign was good," Tharoor said.

Voting in the by-poll for the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala commenced at 7 am on Thursday.

Polling commenced amidst tight security arrangements, including the deployment of central security forces and police, along with live monitoring of the by-election process through an extensive webcasting system.

People began arriving early in the morning at the 263 polling booths across the constituency, which has over 2.32 lakh voters who will elect their representative from among 10 candidates.

Among the 10, the key contenders are ruling LDF pick M Swaraj, Aryadan Shoukath (Congress-led UDF), Trinamool Congress state convener and independent candidate PV Anvar and Mohan George of the BJP-led NDA.

The by-election was necessitated after Anvar resigned as MLA of the constituency following his severing of ties with the CPI(M)-led LDF over certain allegations by him against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his close aides.

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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