Thomas Issac, former Minister said Tharoor won't be left alone in Kerala poltics if he quit the Congress. (Source: X)After senior Congress Shashi Tharoor created ripples in Kerala politics with his remarks praising the LDF government in handling the economy, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said the grand old party lacks a leader in the southern state. Tharoor, who drew the ire of party leaders earlier with his remarks praising Prime Minister Narendra, said if the Congress did not need his services, he had “options”.Tharoor’s remarks made during Varthamanam, a weekly Malayalam language podcast by ieMalayalam has led to speculations among Kerala politicians whether he is planning to switch sides or is eyeing for the Chief Minister post. Assembly polls are scheduled for next year in Kerala.While Congress leaders brushed aside speculations of him switching sides, LDF leaders lauded the four-time parliamentarian. While briefing media, K M Muraleedharan, Congress leader said, If Shashi Tharoor has any problems with the Congress party, it needs to be solved within the party. Nobody should leave the party. He can contribute well during debates in Parliament and especially in national politics. At a time when there is a rise in private universities and industries, Tharoor can gain the support of youngsters.”Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said Tharoor made the statements before meeting Rahul Gandhi. “We don’t intend to trigger a row over the interview. While I was the KPCC president, I had urged him to join the Congress. Its with our support that Tharoor got elected as an MP for the fourth time and he was given the Ministerial post and Congress Working Committee membership.”KC Venugopal, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee and Lok Sabha MP refrained from making any statements.Thomas Issac, veteran CPIM leader and former Minister said Tharoor will not be left alone in Kerala politics if he quits Congress. Issac said, “He needs to clarify further. It’s surprising that Tharoor continued within the Congress so far.”E P Jayarajan, CPIM veteran slammed the Congress party and said, “Tharoor is a renowned thinker, writer and orator, political analyst. Congress party has been utilising him according to their whims. He thinks a lot and he spoke the truth. Kerala is state where industries are booming and its the greed for power has led to such a situation here.”Story continues below this adMV Govindan, CPIM state secretary said Tharoor is saying the same things the Left said earlier. As an Opposition party, Congress has failed to make a stance favouring people’s lives.”© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd