'..Sleepless Nights For Some': PM Modi's Veiled Jibe At Congress After Warmly Meeting Shashi Tharoor At Kerala Event

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement regarding Shashi Tharoor during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala has again sparked a political buzz about the Congress MP's future in the grand old party. Notably, PM Modi on Friday officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram.

Tharoor and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan shared the stage with the Prime Minister at the event. While speaking at the commissioning ceremony PM Modi took a "sleepless nights" dig at the Congress over the presence of Tharoor at the event.

"I want to say this to the CM... you are a strong pillar of INDI alliance. Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Today's event will give sleepless nights to several people," the Prime Minister said. He further added that the translator could not translate these lines, but the message has gone where it had to.

PM Modi's Remark:

VIDEO | Kerala: PM Modi addresses a public gathering after inaugurating Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram.

"I want to say this to the CM (Pinarayi Vijayan)... you are a strong pillar of INDI alliance. (Congress MP) Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Today's… pic.twitter.com/Z18tXGiaqQ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 2, 2025

Interestingly, among all the dignitaries present on the stage, PM Modi shook hand only with Tharoor. The Prime Minister's gesture raised the eyebrows on many.

मोदीजी का मंच पर शशि थरूर से हाथ मिलाना ओर उसके नाम का मंच पर उल्लेख करना और ये कहना

आज का ये इवेंट कई लोगों की नींद ख़राब कर देगा

मोदीजी ने बिना बोले बहुत कुछ इशारा कर दिया

आज तो चमचे और टुकड़े गैंग मातम मनाएगी 😅 pic.twitter.com/pJM4Q2Rva4

— Amrendra Bahubali 🇮🇳 (@TheBahubali_IND) May 2, 2025

Since last several months speculation has been rife that Tharoor could exit Congress and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In February this year, Tharoor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US as a success and also hailed the CPM-led LDF government in Kerala for “its initiatives in economic innovation and sustainable growth.”

In March, BJP's Baijayant Panda shared a selfie with Tharoor. It fueled the speculation of the Congress MP joining the saffron party.However, Tharoor has maintained silence on these media reports.

The PM arrived at the port area by helicopter from Thiruvananthapuram city at 10.15 am and walked around the transshipment hub wearing a hard hat, taking stock of the facilities here.

Subsequently, at 11.33 am, he formally commissioned the first phase of the facility in the presence of Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Vijayan, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and the Thiruvananthapuram Congress MP.