Shashi Tharoor, senior member of the Congress party and a Member of Parliament, on Monday said that he is ready to be Leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, if the party offers him the position. Shashi Tharoor has expressed this at a time when discussions are being held in the inner Congress circles about who will take up this role.
In an interview to NDTV, Tharoor said that he is ready to take up any additional responsibility in Parliament. “I cannot determine things regarding positions of the party in Parliament, the Congress party will have to decide on that. But I am available to take up any additional responsibility in Parliament,” said Tharoor.
Tharoor has expressed his willingness to take up the role at a time when Congress President Rahul Gandhi reportedly held a meeting to decide on the post of Leader of the party in the lower house.
“I have the responsibility to talk for the party in Parliament and I have been doing that for the past years. I will be happy to serve the party in the Parliament in whatever capacity it is possible,” Tharoor said.
In another interview given to Tiranga TV, Tharoor said that he intends to play whatever role the party wants him to. “I have earned it through my re-election and I will be a voice in the party,” he said.
Tharoor won from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency for the third consecutive term.
According to reports, Tharoor also said that the party leadership may be looking for qualities which he may or may not possess. He added that the party knows him well for the past 10 years and that he will put his talents in the service of the party.
Tharoor also added in one of the interviews that Rahul Gandhi himself could take up the leadership of the party in the Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, the Congress party does not have the numbers to get the status of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, just like in 2014. It is short by two seats, and a section in the Congress believes that it is time for the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to merge with the Congress.