Shashi Tharoor Skips Rahul Gandhi-Led MPs' Meet; Absence Fuels Rift Rumours

India Today's Ashok Singhal reports that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor skipped yet another strategy meeting of Lok Sabha MPs convened by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. This is the third consecutive gathering he has missed. According to Singhal, Tharoor cited 'unavailability', a claim at odds with what the party's chief whip conveyed internally. The pattern has stirred fresh talk about Tharoor's strained equation with the Congress leadership, particularly after his recent public praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- a remark that raised eyebrows within the party. The report also flagged his earlier absences from key pre-session strategy huddles, adding to questions about how closely he intends to align with the party's central command in the weeks ahead.