Many Will Lose Sleep: With Congress MP Shashi Tharoor By His Side, PM Modi Takes A Jibe At INDI Alliance At Vizhinjam Port Inauguration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (2 May) targeted the Opposition in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

Amid growing speculation about Shashi Tharoor's position within the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the INDI alliance during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam port in Kerala.

"I want to tell CM [Pinarayi Vijayan], you are a strong pillar of INDI alliance, Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Today's event is going to disturb the sleep of many," PM Mod wasi quoted by ANI as saying.

Congress MPTharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha, was also present to welcome the Prime Minister on Thursday.

Tharoor, who has been associated with the Vizhinjam project since its inception, shared photos of his handshake with Modi and expressed pride in his involvement with the port. 

PM Modi’s interaction with Shashi Tharoor on the stage too drew attention; unlike his brief greetings with other dignitaries, he lingered, engaging in a smiling, hand-held conversation with Tharoor for several seconds., India Today reported.

The Vizhinjam International Seaport, developed under a public-private partnership by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), is India’s first dedicated deep-water transshipment port.

The project, completed at a cost of approximately Rs 8,867 crore, is strategically located near major international shipping lanes and is equipped with semi-automated, AI-driven systems.

The port is designed to reclaim a substantial share of India’s transshipment container traffic, which is currently routed through foreign ports like Colombo.

The commissioning of the Vizhinjam port is being touted as a transformative step for India’s maritime infrastructure.

The port’s natural draft of over 20 metres allows it to accommodate large container vessels without significant dredging, and its proximity to international shipping routes is expected to attract major global shipping lines.

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