Thiruvananthapuram, April 4 – Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday that he has received numerous requests from people in Kerala to visit Beypore and campaign, but expressed regret at being unable to accommodate additional engagements, citing time constraints set by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
"Thank you. We have received many such requests. But our schedule was carefully planned after extensive consultations, and I am already covering five or six constituencies a day. I cannot add anything without canceling something else. I sincerely apologize for disappointing so many colleagues, but this is the time allocated by the ECI for the campaign!" he posted on X.
His response came after a user on X urged him to visit Beypore, stating that his presence would provide a significant boost to UDF workers in the constituency.
Earlier in the day, after his convoy was allegedly blocked and a member of his security team was assaulted in Malappuram district, Tharoor said that he was safe and expressed gratitude for the concern shown by supporters.
"I am truly grateful for all the messages and calls expressing concern about the incident last night when my security guard was attacked. He is fine, and I was unharmed. Thank you to all my friends and well-wishers. We continued our work undeterred yesterday and successfully concluded two more events as planned. Our ongoing program remains unaffected."
Kerala is set to vote in a single phase on April 9. The counting of votes for the 140-member Assembly will take place on May 4. The current Assembly's term will end on May 23.
The state has approximately 2.70 crore electors, including 1.31 crore male voters, 1.38 crore female voters, and 277 voters from the third gender.
The upcoming elections are considered crucial for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), as Kerala remains the only state in India currently governed by the Left. The state, known for its alternating political trends between the LDF and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), is also witnessing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as a significant challenger, with its vote share rising substantially in recent elections.
