Kochi, Feb. 24 -- The senior leaders of the CPI(M) in Kerala rushed to support Congress MP Shashi Tharoor after the latter commented that there was an "absence" of a leader within the state unit of the Congress and that it would sit in opposition for the third time if it did not try to expand its appeal beyond its voter-base.

At the same time, Congress leaders in the state reacted cautiously to the comments.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, in a newspaper podcast, also said that he was available for the party if it needed him.

But if it did not need his services, Shashi Tharoor said he had "options" like books, speeches and invitations to address gatherings around the world.

He also that the Congr...