Recently, an online petition grabbed a lot of attention on social media – it was an appeal to make Shashi Tharoor the prime ministerial candidate from Congress. Started by a man from Thiruvananthapuram, the petition received over 16,000 signatures and a lot of support. Why not, Tharoor is among the more progressive and well-read politicians in India today, and god knows, we need more like him in this atmosphere of communalist aggression.

© BCCL

Shashi Tharoor has now responded to the online petition in a Facebook post. Thanking the people who are supporting him, he has however declined to be party to any such appeal. Emphasizing on his current role as member of Parliament for Congress, he has reminded people that the governments are formed through parliamentary procedures. 

“I thank the creator of this petition, who I understand is from Thiruvananthapuram, for his faith in me as his representative in Parliament, and thank everyone who has signed it so far for their good wishes. I have, however, discouraged those of my “followers” who have asked me about this from doing so, since I do not support such a campaign.”

© Wikimedia Commons

He further said: “The party has a settled leadership, which is not up for debate. When changes occur they do so through an established procedure.” 

Erm…the ‘settled leadership’ is not really doing a convincing job. Even Twitter agrees.

Close enough #AkhileshRaGa ? pic.twitter.com/c1geur0bPb

Shashi Tharoor’s dignified response to the petition shows why he is a politician of sensible tastes, even though it’s a bummer. Indian politics really needs politicians like you, Mr Tharoor.