While the state Congress leaders downplayed his absence, it once again set tongues wagging. “Issues are sorted out,” a source close to Tharoor told The Indian Express after the meeting at Kharge’s office in Parliament House. Gandhi took the names of several party leaders who were on the dais while beginning his speech, but skipped Tharoor’s. But after Thursday’s meeting, Tharoor seemed positive and said: “We had a discussion with my two party leaders, with the LOP and Congress president. The electoral battle in Assam, Congress leaders admit, is going to be an uphill task for the party.