"Stand as one": Rahul Gandhi affirms Kerala Congress' 'unity' amid row over Shashi Tharoor's remarks

New Delhi [India], March 2 (ANI): Amid reports suggesting a 'rift' within the Kerala Congress, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, affirmed the unity of party leaders on Sunday, saying that the Kerala leadership "stand as one."
"They stand as one, united by the light of purpose ahead," Gandhi shared in the caption of a picture of various Congress leaders standing shoulder to shoulder. Shashi Tharoor was also present in the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rahul Gandhi (@rahulgandhi)

This comes after Congress leader Shashi Tharoor drew a lot of flak from within the party for his earlier remarks praising the industrial policy of Kerala.
A few weeks ago, Tharoor had praised the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government's industrial policy and handling of the state's economy, which had drawn criticism from fellow Congress leaders in the State in an article published last month in the English daily. This had sparked speculation over his intentions and position in the party.
Tharoor had subsequently clarified that his article did not seek to survey the entire Kerala economy, which "remains in dire straits." He said that he wrote about a specific subject: the changed industrial climate as evidenced by the start-up ecosystem alone.
However today, Tharoor expressed dismay over Kerala's start-up entrepreneurship story, saying that it has not been what was reported earlier, and the state needs more Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Sharing a story from a publication on the closure of over MSMEs enterprises in the last nine years, Tharoor said, "We need more MSME start-ups and not just on paper."
"Dismayed to see that the Kerala start-up entrepreneurship story is not what's been reported. The only silver lining is that at least the GoK's claims point to the right intentions. We need more MSME start-ups -- and not just on paper. Kerala must head this way!" Tharoor wrote on X. (ANI)