Rajeev Chandrasekhar Bids Farewell to 18 Years of Public Service, Tharoor Sends Best Wishes

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor extended his best wishes to former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Tharoor wrote, "As someone who discussed various issues with you during your stint in government, I have no doubt that there is much more you can contribute to our country through public service. Elective office is only one path (and you are young enough to have another crack at that too!) All the best for the future."

Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced the conclusion of his "18-year stint of public service" today. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he expressed his intent to continue working for the party as a leader.

"Today curtains down on my 18 year stint of public service, of which 3 years I had the privilege to serve with PM @narendramodi ji's TeamModi2.0. I certainly didn't intend to end my 18 years of public service, as a candidate who lost an Election, but that's how it's turned out," his post read.

"My deepest thanks to all those I met, all those who supported me - and in particular all those karyakartas and leaders who so inspired and energized me. Thanks also to my colleagues in govt over last 3 years. As a @BJP4India karyakarta, I will continue to support and work in the party," he added.

However, Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweet has now been deleted.

Chandrasekhar, who contested from Thiruvananthapuram, was unable to unseat Congress's three-time MP Shashi Tharoor in a very tight race. Tharoor won by 16,077 votes after trailing Chandrasekhar for part of the day.

Netizens on X appreciated Tharoor's gesture towards Chandrasekhar, sharing their admiration for the display of mutual respect and camaraderie between the political opponents. Many users praised Tharoor for his gracious and encouraging words, highlighting the positive tone in an often contentious political landscape.