Tharoor seeks to establish his Malayali credentials

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hitting the campaign trail, former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor, a Congress candidate for Thiruvanathapuram Lok Sabha seat,
made his debut in the murky world of electoral politics here with attempts to establish his Malayali credentials.

Tharoor, was born in London to Malayali parents hailing from a village in Kerala's Palaakad, surprised many in the media here at a meeting by speaking in good Malayalam.

Participating in the "anghathattu" (battle field) programme organized by Malayalam daily Kerala Kaumudi,he said there was no truth in the allegations that he cannot speak Malayalam. He said he was conversant enough to communicate with people in their language and understand their problems.

Tharoor said what was more important as a Member of Parliament was to raise the problems of the constituency and find solutions, for which Hindi and English were more useful.

Rejecting the impression sought to be created by certain quarters that he was a total stranger to Kerala, Tharoor said he knew Kerala quite well and was proud of its achievements in areas like social development, woman empowerment and social emancipation of the depressed classes.

An author with 11 books, he said many of his novels and short stories had the "Kerala settings".

"Though, I have gone out and worked in the UN, now I am back home. I have taken a house here two years back and am staying with my mother," he said.