Tharoor facing twin challenge in Thiruvananthapuram

But he proved to be an astute campaigner and won by a handsome margin of about one lakh votes.

Despite controversies which have shadowed him since then, Tharoor has been able to strike a chord with his constituents through his suave and affable approach.  

“They are running away from speaking about the work I have done in the constituency. Instead of basing their campaigning on issues, they are casting a slur on me,” he said at an election meeting.

Congress strategists say it is mere wishful thinking on part of LDF leaders that the Nadar community would vote en bloc for the CPI candidate simply because he belongs to that community.

They argue that Nadars largely are supporters of Congress, both in Kerala and the adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu. The community has no issue now with the party to decide that it will not vote for its candidate, they said.