Former Union minister and Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor has been sacked as the party spokesperson. This comes after sustained criticism from the party for what it felt to be unwarranted praise for PM Narendra Modi. The recommendations were made by a disciplinary panel over discussions last week.

Tharoor had reacted through Facebook of his colleagues' criticism saying, "I am astonished that anyone would suggest that I am pro-BJP. I have a 30-year paper trail of published writings on my idea of India and my profound belief in India's pluralism. Being receptive to specific statements or actions of BJP leaders does not remotely imply acceptance of the party's core Hindutva agenda. The Prime Minister pitched his appeal as a non-political one and I received it in that spirit. I am a proud Congressman and a proud Indian. In short: not pro-BJP, just pro-India!"

Sonia Gandhi has accepted the decision to remove Tharoor as party spokesperson.