Feb 16 || TC – Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has responded to criticism from within his own party over his recent article in an English daily, which discussed Kerala’s advancements in the startup sector.
Posting in Malayalam on Facebook on Sunday, Tharoor expressed surprise at the controversy surrounding his views.
"I wrote this article as a Member of Parliament from Kerala, focusing solely on the transformation of the industrial sector through the rise of startups. As a dedicated Congress worker, I am proud to acknowledge that it was former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who laid the foundation for this progress," he wrote.
Tharoor credited Chandy's policies for fostering Kerala’s startup ecosystem, highlighting initiatives such as Startup Village and the Kerala Startup Mission, which have continued to receive support from the present administration.
Addressing doubts regarding the accuracy of his claims, he clarified, "The foundation of my article is the 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, which contains detailed data on the subject."
This statement seemed to be directed at party leaders who had questioned the credibility of his analysis. His remarks followed criticism from Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leaders, led by Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan.
Former Industries Minister and IUML general secretary P. K. Kunhalikutty also objected to Tharoor’s assertions, arguing that the industrial sector had thrived under the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) policies.
Tharoor emphasized that his article was not an overall evaluation of Kerala’s economy.
He acknowledged the state's ongoing economic difficulties, such as high unemployment rates, the migration of skilled youth, crises in key agricultural sectors like rubber and cashew, and the mounting debt burden.
"Solving these challenges will take time. However, recognizing positive developments in even one sector is important rather than ignoring them," he stated, distancing himself from the controversy.
On February 15, Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan directly questioned the credibility of Tharoor’s data on the state's MSME sector.
"I am not sure where Tharoor got his figures on Kerala’s MSME growth. Many returning NRIs start small businesses like shops and bakeries – can these really be classified as MSME growth?" he asked.
In response, Tharoor urged his critics to read the article before forming opinions.
"A final request: Read the article before commenting! It does not discuss party politics but focuses on the measures needed to lift Kerala out of its economic crisis. For the last 16 years, I have consistently spoken about Kerala’s economic development," he said.
Meanwhile, KPCC leadership has submitted a formal complaint against Tharoor to the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
Interestingly, the CPI(M) has welcomed Tharoor’s views, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan, and Industries Minister P. Rajeeve appreciating his acknowledgment of the state's startup sector progress.