Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, reaffirmed his unwavering stance on putting the nation first, stating that political parties are only tools to achieve the broader goal of national development. Speaking at a private event on “Peace, Harmony and National Development,” Tharoor emphasized that his loyalty lies with the nation above all else, including party lines.

“To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better. Every political party may have its own approach to achieving this, and they have the right to disagree on how best to do it,” Tharoor said. He added that despite criticism for backing the Indian armed forces and the government over recent border issues, he stands firm in his conviction because it is what he believes is right for the country.

Tharoor acknowledged the competitive nature of democracy, noting that expressing national solidarity is sometimes misinterpreted as party disloyalty. “We have our convictions that bind us to our respective parties. But when we support the nation, especially in matters like national security, there should be space for unity across political lines,” he remarked.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the event, Tharoor reiterated that serving the nation has always been his primary motivation. He said he returned to India solely to contribute in whatever way possible—both within and outside the political sphere.

When asked about his relationship with the Congress high command, Tharoor declined to comment, saying his presence was to speak on issues beyond party politics, particularly around peace, development, and communal harmony. He emphasized that inclusive development and national unity have been central to his 16-year political career.

Regarding a recent survey that claimed Tharoor is the Congress-led UDF’s most preferred candidate for Kerala’s Chief Minister post, he said he had no comment to offer. “Someone forwarded it to me, and I replied with a salute emoji. I didn’t say anything else, and I don’t intend to,” he clarified.