Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 24 (IANS) Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor came in for some criticism from Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Tuesday for being a 'habitual latecomer' at functions.

Speaking at an event here on the inauguration of the third phase of giving title deeds to the landless, Achuthanandan lashed out at the Thiruvananthapuram MP.

'It has become a habit for Tharoor to see that he arrives for functions after checking if the chief minister has arrived. And after arriving, when it is his turn to speak, he criticises the Kerala government. This time I have come prepared to see that he answers my questions, but I now realise that he is not coming for this function,' said the chief minister.

Achuthanandan said if Tharoor had come he would have been made to speak on the callous attitude of the centre.

'I would have made him speak on why the centre is not honouring our demand for assistance for natural calamities suffered by the state. But he is not here,' said Achuthanandan.

Tharoor's reported late arrival at many of his programmes here have been a point of discussion in the party circles also.

Tharoor won the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat by a margin of nearly a lakh votes in the May 2009 Lok Sabha polls.