Shashi Tharoor’s Tensions with Congress: A Fractured Alliance

For several months, the Congress party has made attempts to distance itself from the remarks of Shashi Tharoor, a prominent member of the party. However, recent developments suggest that Tharoor may be distancing himself from the Congress, raising questions about the future of his political career.

The rift between Tharoor and the Congress appeared to widen in February this year when the Thiruvananthapuram MP openly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent US visit. This has now escalated further with the government’s decision to nominate Tharoor for a key diplomatic post, bypassing the Congress leadership. This move has brought the differences to a tipping point.

Congress veteran P J Kurien’s recent remark, suggesting that people might suspect Tharoor is leaning towards the BJP, highlights the visible strain in the relationship. This has raised the question: Is Tharoor on his way out of the Congress?

Tharoor, when asked about not being nominated by the party, said that his party leadership is entitled to its opinion of his abilities, and he has no comment to make on that. He expressed his honor in being entrusted with the responsibility and his commitment to fulfill it.

When asked if the party was trying to insult him, Tharoor said he cannot be insulted so easily. “I know my worth,” he asserted. Tharoor also echoed the government line, stating that the matter has nothing to do with party politics but is about presenting a united front for the country.

The Congress, unhappy with Tharoor’s acceptance of the responsibility despite the party’s stance, said that being in the Congress is different from being of the Congress. The Congress is likened to the Ganga, with many tributaries, some of which dry up and others get polluted.

Tharoor’s messages to the Congress have been at odds with several issues in the last few months. He has praised PM Modi’s policies without considering the party line. This includes his praise for PM Modi’s US visit, which has yielded positive outcomes for the Indian people. He welcomed the agreement on trade and tariffs and criticized the government’s previous approach.

Tharoor also criticized the Indian position during the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that he was one of the few to criticize the Indian stance. He praised India’s vaccine diplomacy during the pandemic, highlighting its role in international leadership and humanitarian efforts. He also commented on the intelligence failure in the Pahalgam terror attack, suggesting that no country can have foolproof intelligence.

Tharoor’s praise for PM Modi has not been an isolated incident. In 2015, he had called Modi “master communicator at work.” This prompted Kerala Congress to remind him of his election on a Congress ticket. Tharoor defended his views, stating that he is a proud Congressman and not pro-BJP, but pro-India.

The differences between Congress and Tharoor are so evident that Prime Minister Modi has taken swipes at the party when he shared stage with Tharoor at a function in Kerala. Modi’s remarks were interpreted as a criticism of the Congress, suggesting that Tharoor’s presence was a disruption.

Tharoor’s repeated praise for Modi has led to disciplinary actions in the past. However, 10 years later, he appears to be more aggressive in defending his stance. The question remains: Is Shashi Tharoor now forcing his way out of the Congress? The outcome of this situation will be closely watched.