Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Dr Shashi Tharoor today denied media reports that he was planning to joining BJP before the next Parliament elections. In his Facebook post, former union minister Dr Tharoor representing the Lok Sabha seat here, said, "In view of the number of people asking, let me repeat that my convictions are a matter of record and they do not match those of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). For 40+years I have spoken and written in defence of a pluralist India with equal rights for all its citizens and communities.
On this, no compromise. Rumours of my joining BJP have been floated periodically with no basis whatsoever. I deny them categorically and without qualification." Earlier, in a party programme, CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that Tharoor and a few other Congress leaders were planning to join BJP.
In response to the CPM allegation, KPCC President MM Hassan came out with a clarification that the Opposition was engaged in a campaign to defame Congress leaders. "Tharoor told me that CPM was spreading the false news as part of their propaganda against him." he added. (UNI)