THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shashi Tharoor, MP, has decided to step down as KPCC digital media cell chairman.
Sources say he was upset with the response of Congress leaders in Kerala to his observations about the landslide victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but his decision has nothing to do with it.
KPCC president Mullappally Rama-chandran said Dr Tharoor was stepping down due to lack of time but is willing to stay until they find a replacement for him.
However, sources said Dr Tharoor was not comfortable with the job he assumed with a limited purpose of elections, and his decision is final.
He announced his resignation at the meeting of state core committee members and coordinators of KPCC digital cell one-and-a-half week ago.
At the meeting, Anil Antony, its convener, urged him to continue, but, sources say, Dr Tharoor refused.
The post of social media chairman exists only in Kerala. In other states, there are digital media coordinators during the Lok Sabha elections.
“Dr Tharoor and Mr Antony were appointed by KPCC president and AICC leadership respectively. It was only in Kerala,” said a Congress leader.
Lawmakers K. Muraleedharan, T. N. Prathapan and Benny Behanan had harshly criticised Dr Tharoor for what they claimed as "eulogising" Mr Modi, which led Mr Ramachandran to seek an explanation from him. He found his version satisfactory and urged other leaders to maintain decorum.
