Shashi Tharoor, a prominent figure in the Indian National Congress party, will be absent from the swearing-in ceremony of VD Satheesan as Chief Minister of Kerala on May 18. Tharoor is attending a significant event in Boston, where he will deliver the commencement address at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University, coinciding with his 50th class reunion. While Tharoor's commitment is commendable, his absence from the ceremony has sparked speculation regarding the ongoing internal conflicts within the Kerala Congress. Observers note that this absence allows him to sidestep the visible tensions between factions led by KC Venugopal and Satheesan, who was chosen over Venugopal for the CM position. Tharoor's status as an 'outsider-insider' is further emphasized by his global engagements, contrasting with the local political struggles of his party. His closing remarks about looking forward to the future in Kerala hint at potential shifts in leadership dynamics, as Satheesan's independent approach sets a new precedent that could influence Tharoor's future role in the party.