'Do not intend to fight smear campaign against Sunanda'

Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor Saturday said he did not intend to fight the Left opposition's smear campaign over the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

"I don't intend to tackle it because I am sure the people know what happened. Moreover, a police investigation is already on. There is no complaint against me. If the Left opposition has information, they should share it with the investigators," he said.

Tharoor is most likely to get a second chance to contest the general polls from the state capital.

He was addressing the media about his five-year performance as a parliamentarian in the presence of local legislators from the Kerala assembly.

Tharoor said he is perhaps the only parliamentarian who has systematically come out with an annual progress report for the past five years.

Incidentally, K. Muraleedharan, son of late K. Karunakaran, pointed out that he was shocked to learn the political opponents were discussing Pushkar's death at a public meeting.

"In an election campaign, performance should be discussed and not unleash a smear drive. When Tharoor was named as candidate (in 2009), I was not in the Congress. Like many, I also doubted can he work among the people, as he led a high-profile life. But he has done an excellent job," said Muraleedharan.