Shashi Tharoor along with Ramya Haridas, Congress candidate in Chirayinkeezhu, and other party workers
The sun hung heavy over the coastal stretch of Chirayinkeezh, and the air carried the smell of salt and drying nets as a modest crowd gathered under a patchwork of shamianas. Men and women shielded their eyes from the glare and leaned in as Shashi Tharoor stepped forward, his trademark dark glasses catching the harsh afternoon light.
“Don’t get the idea that I’ve shifted base to the DMK,” Tharoor quipped, tapping the rim of his dark shades and drawing laughter from the crowd. The joke carried a layered political reference, an allusion to the iconic dark glasses associated with M Karunanidhi, whose trademark black shades became synonymous with the visual identity of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. For a moment, the humid coastal morning turned playful, the crowd catching the cultural cue as laughter rippled through the gathering.
This whistle-stop visit was less about spectacle and more about signalling intent. The Indian National Congress has placed its bet on Ramya Haridas in a constituency that has long resisted change, and Tharoor’s presence served as both endorsement and reassurance amid swirling speculation that Members of Parliament were eyeing Assembly seats.
In a brief interaction with businessline on the sidelines, Tharoor moved swiftly to shut down rumours that he might himself enter the fray. “At no stage did I consider myself as MLA candidate,” he said, his tone measured even as supporters edged closer to catch a glimpse.
Winnability factor
In Kerala’s political arithmetic, a Member of Parliament is often said to carry the weight of several legislators, given the ratio of 20 Lok Sabha seats to 140 Assembly seats. Yet, the lure of State-level power has seen some MPs openly express ambitions to contest Assembly elections. Tharoor, however, insisted his calculations were guided by a single yardstick — electability.
He said the Congress-led United Democratic Front, out of power for a decade, now sees multiple opportunities even in crowded contests. “Winnability,” he indicated, remains the central criterion in candidate selection. The campaign trail, however, is not without its burdens. Responding to questions about resources, Tharoor acknowledged the strain facing the party. “For my part, I’ve been travelling from Kasaragod to Kanyakumari on campaign largely at my own expense,” he said, underscoring the financial constraints confronting the Congress in contrast to better-funded rivals. While the party’s central leadership provides some assistance, he suggested that the current phase demands extraordinary effort from its workers.
Beyond the speeches and sound bites, Chirayinkeezh itself offers a vivid reminder of the stakes. The constituency stretches across fishing hamlets and coir-making clusters, where livelihoods rise and fall with the tide. The electorate here reflects a layered social fabric of Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities bound by traditional occupations.
Politically, the terrain has remained firmly in the grip of the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), both part of the Left Democratic Front. Of the last six major electoral contests, Assembly and Parliamentary, the CPI has claimed three victories, the CPI(M) two and the Congress only one. The margins in recent Assembly elections have been comfortable, underscoring the scale of the challenge before Haridas.
Within the local Congress ranks, there had initially been hesitation about fielding a candidate perceived as an outsider. AK Shanavas acknowledged those doubts openly. But, he said, the mood has shifted as Haridas settled into the constituency, walking its lanes and attending local gatherings. Another party functionary, Unnikrishnan, remarked that she had adapted to the region “like duck to water”.
Haridas herself is hardly an unknown figure. Party leaders here repeatedly point to her political journey as proof of resilience. She was the only woman elected from Kerala to Parliament in 2019, and only the second Dalit woman from the State to serve in the Lok Sabha, credentials they believe lend weight to her campaign in a constituency where identity and representation often intersect with livelihood concerns.
Back at the gathering, Tharoor’s speech blended encouragement with urgency. He said he has developed a special admiration for Haridas, describing her as hardworking. Kerala and the Congress-led UDF, he suggested, require leaders of her calibre to steer the State out of what he described as the stagnation created by the ruling Left.
As the crowd slowly thinned and vehicles rolled out of the narrow coastal road, the echoes of slogans faded into the sound of waves hitting the shore. In Chirayinkeezh, where politics often moves with the rhythm of the sea, the Congress has cast its net wide, hoping that familiarity, persistence and a dose of star power from visiting leaders will finally tilt the tide.
Published on March 26, 2026