Bonhomie among rivals was on display on Tuesday morning when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders called on injured Congress leader Shashi Tharoor at the Government Medical College Hospital.

The incumbent MP has been admitted with injuries sustained while performing a ritual at a temple a day ago. 

Union Minister for Defence Nirmala Sitharaman, who was in the State capital to campaign for the BJP candidates in the Thiruvananthapuram and Attingal Lok Sabha constituencies, visited Dr. Tharoor at the hospital on Tuesday and enquired about his health before proceeding for Kannur where she is scheduled to take part in a poll convention. 

Following the visit, Dr. Tharoor tweeted: Touched by the gesture of @nsitharaman, who dropped by today morning to visit me in the hospital, amid her hectic electioneering in Kerala. Civility is a rare virtue in Indian politics – great to see her practice it by example! (sic).

He also acknowledged the call made by LDF candidate and his rival in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency C. Divakaran to “express concern about my well-being”. “Said he had spoken to the Hospital Superintendent to assure himself I would be ok. “Don’t be demoralized”, he added. I’m not: I’m more determined than ever to see this through! (sic)”, Dr. Tharoor tweeted. 

The two-time lawmaker had sustained injuries during a ‘thulabharam’ ritual at the Gandhari Amman Kovil here on Monday when the scale gave way and a heavy iron hook fell on his head. While he received eight stitches on his head, the hospital conducted examinations to rule out any brain and optic nerve damage. 

He is scheduled to resume his campaign later in the day with an interaction with employees of the Technopark and a convention that will be inaugurated by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.