Going In "Same Direction" With BJP? Shashi Tharoor, Jay Panda's Friendly Selfie Sparks Rumours

Who says political rivals can't be good friends outside Parliament? On Saturday, BJP MP Jay Panda shared a friendly selfie with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, which caught everyone's attention on the internet, and once again sparked speculations that will Shashi Tharoor join BJP?

BJP MP captioned the photo: "My friend & fellow traveler called me mischievous for saying that we seem to be finally travelling in the same direction..."

The statement started rumours that is it a hint that Shashi Tharoor is all set to travel in BJP's direction now.

A few days ago, Shashi Tharoor fueled rumors saying he has other "options" during a podcast. His statement brought Congress' potential rift to open. However, the Congressman later clarified that he was referring to personal time rather than political alternatives.

Today, Shashi Tharoor was heading to Bhubaneswar for the Kalinga LitFest, when he "coincidentally" met senior BJP leader Jay Panda.

He had also praised Kerala's LDF government's economic management led to accusations from Congress of distorting political practices.

He defended his earlier remarks stating: he was simply acknowledging the state's progress. However, he later retracted his comments after reports emerged about the closure of over 42,000 MSMEs in Kerala over nine years.

Adding to the intrigue, Mr Tharoor shared a selfie with Pinarayi Vijayan, leader of Kerala's LDF government and a key rival of Congress.

Congress' Efforts to Maintain Unity

The central leadership of Congress has been actively working to project unity within the party. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi shared a post featuring Mr Tharoor alongside other leaders, asserting their solidarity with the message "stand as one." These efforts aim to counteract any perceptions of discord following Mr Tharoor's recent interactions and statements.

Despite these controversies, Mr Tharoor appears determined not to let speculations overshadow his political journey. By addressing misunderstandings promptly and clarifying his intentions, he seeks to maintain focus on his contributions without fuelling unnecessary tensions within his party.