Is Shashi Tharoor joining CPM? Congress MP refuses to comment, party leaders dismiss rumours

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he has seen reports claiming he had held discussions with persons associated with CPM in Dubai, but declined to comment on the matter.While the governing CPM dismissed questions about any discussion on Tharoor joining the party as mere speculation, Congress said any issues Tharoor had would be resolved and denied he was quitting the party. Tharoor, currently attending a literature festival in Dubai, said he had seen the reports but it would not be appropriate to comment on it while being in a foreign country.Speculation about the MP possibly switching to another party surfaced following reports that he was upset over Congress neta Rahul Gandhi not adequately acknowledging him at a recent event in Kochi and over alleged repeated attempts by party netas in the state to sideline him.CPM state secretary M V Govindan on Monday dismissed questions about any discussion on the Thiruvananthapuram MP joining the party as mere speculation, saying such reports had no relevance. "Tharoor continues to be a prominent neta of Congress. He follows a different approach of regularly praising BJP and the PM. In such a situation, I do not think rumours of him joining CPM are relevant," Govindan said. LoP V D Satheesan said he was unaware that Tharoor had caused any problem for Congress. "You give out reports and come to us for a response. What can I say?" he asked.