Humans first, caste or religion later: Shashi Tharoor hails Kerala as model of communal harmony

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvananthapuram, May 7, 2026: Reflecting on the results of the 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala, Shashi Tharoor said the state continues to stand as a model of communal harmony, where people value humanity above caste or religion.

In a post on X, the Thiruvananthapuram MP highlighted the election outcomes in three constituencies to underline Kerala’s secular fabric.

“One Kerala story from the recent election results that communalists should note: a Muslim-majority constituency, Thavanur, elected a Christian, VS Joy; a Hindu-majority constituency, Kalamassery, elected a Muslim, VE Abdul Gafoor; and a Christian-majority constituency, Kochi, elected a Muslim, Muhammed Shiyas,” Tharoor wrote.

“Despite some influence from national trends favouring identity politics, Kerala remains a model of communal harmony — a state where people see human beings first and caste or religion later,” he added.

The Assembly elections in Kerala brought an end to the 10-year rule of the Left government. The UDF won 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, while the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 63 seats.