THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shashi Tharoor, who shined in the AICC president election despite losing, became more acceptable in the general public and in the party ranks after some prominent leaders announced an undeclared ban on him for the Youth Congress seminar in Kozhikode.

Tharoor aims to become a well-accepted leader of the UDF. This is also a cause of concern for prominent Congress leaders in the state. They suspect that Tharoor is aiming for the post of Chief Minister. Tharoor is supported by leaders and cadres, including the young MLAs of the party.

Muslim League has revealed its preference for Tharoor. League National General Secretary PK Kunhalikutty said yesterday that Tharoor is a popular leader.

Tharoor will reach Panakkad today morning and will meet League President Sadiqali Shihab Thangal. He will have breakfast in Panakkad at 8 am. The league wants Tharoor to be in the leadership due to his firm stand against the Sangh Parivar and the BJP.

This is the first time that the visit of a Congress leader who is neither the KPCC president nor the leader of the opposition, nor a national official, has gained political significance.

NSS has also made clear its preference for Tharoor. Shashi Tharoor will inaugurate the Mannam Jayanti celebration at Perunna on January 2. The NSS leadership usually allows leaders, including the KPCC president, only to sit in the front row of the audience during the Mannam Jayanti celebrations. However, they are now changing this tradition for Tharoor.

Tharoor visited Thamarassery Diocese Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil and Kozhikode Diocese Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal the other day. He will also visit Kanthapuram AP Abubakr Musliyar today. Realizing that all this is a move towards a central role in the party, the party's leaders imposed an undeclared ban on Tharoor. Not only did it backfire, but it also increased the popularity of Tharoor.

K Muraleedharan described Tharoor as a powerful weapon against the CPM. Sources said that KPCC president K Sudhakaran is also supporting Tharoor. Kozhikode MP MK Raghavan has been with Tharoor since the beginning.

Favourable components

1. Influence on youth and middle class
2. Acceptable to minorities as a strong critic of Sangh Parivar
3. Can influence neutral voters

Adverse factors

1. Not working in the organizational framework of Congress
2. Favours Left government's projects like K-Rail
3. Lack of connection with workers at the grassroots level