Shashi Tharoor’s U-turn on Kerala growth: ‘Dismayed’ after praising LDF

Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, reversed his stance on Kerala’s industrial growth. On Sunday, he expressed disappointment with the state’s start-up ecosystem, contradicting his earlier praise for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

Tharoor shared a news report on X, highlighting that Kerala’s start-up sector was not as promising as claimed. “Dismayed to see that the Kerala start-up entrepreneurship story is not what’s been reported,” he posted. He stressed the need for more MSME start-ups, not just on paper.

His remarks followed criticism from Congress leaders over his recent article praising the LDF government’s investment policies. His comments in a Malayalam podcast further fueled speculation that he was positioning himself for leadership in the state, upsetting party members.

Congress, Kerala’s main opposition party, aims to reclaim power from the LDF in next year’s Assembly elections. The report Tharoor shared claimed that over 42,000 MSMEs had shut down in Kerala over nine years, leading to more than 1,03,000 job losses.

“The only silver lining is that at least the government’s claims point to the right intentions. We need more MSME start-ups—and not just on paper,” Tharoor wrote.

State Industries Minister P Rajeeve dismissed the report as baseless. He stated in the Assembly on February 10 that only 1,700 MSMEs shut down in Kerala over four years, citing Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s parliamentary data. Rajeeve noted that 30% of MSMEs in India close within a year, but Kerala’s rate is only 15%.

Rajeeve accused the report of having ulterior motives, questioning the credibility of its figures.

Tharoor’s latest remarks stirred fresh controversy within Congress. His earlier article praising the LDF’s industrial policies had already caused friction. His criticism of Kerala’s start-up sector now adds to tensions as Congress strategizes for the 2024 Assembly polls.

Just two days before Tharoor’s post, Congress leaders met in Delhi to plan their election strategy. His comments come at a crucial time, raising questions about his political positioning within the party.

The debate over Kerala’s industrial growth continues, with Congress leaders divided on Tharoor’s shifting stance. As elections approach, his role in the party’s future remains uncertain.