NEW DELHI: While tension on the India-Pak border appears momentarily static, a political storm is brewing within the Congress party over Shashi Tharoor’s prompt acceptance of the Modi government’s invitation to lead an outreach mission. The move has triggered speculation about Tharoor’s future within the party, particularly in Kerala and Delhi, with murmurs suggesting a possible realignment with the BJP-led Centre.
Tharoor’s supporters, however, have come to his defense. Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran publicly backed Tharoor, criticizing the Congress leadership for omitting Tharoor’s name from the official list of party representatives. “Tharoor has always acted in the national interest and his exclusion is unfair,” Sudhakaran said, adding that the party must not alienate leaders with mass appeal and international recognition.
The issue has laid bare a growing rift within the Kerala unit of the Congress. Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V.D. Satheesan, commented cautiously, saying, “This is a matter for the party’s central leadership to address. Internal disagreements must be resolved in the right forums.”
Sources within the party indicate that a substantial section of Congress leaders in Kerala is unhappy with Tharoor’s repeated public praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government’s policies. These acts, they claim, undermine the Congress’s efforts to present a united front against the BJP.
One senior Congress leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that Tharoor’s actions had disrupted the party’s strategy to challenge Modi’s image ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar, where PM Modi is all set to make Opration Sindoor a election compgain. “At a time when the BJP is mocking Rahul Gandhi for questioning the Centre on critical issues like the situation in Pahalgam, Tharoor’s alignment with a government initiative plays directly into the BJP’s hands,” the leader said.
The timing of the controversy is particularly sensitive. The Modi government has been aggressively promoting “Operation Sindoor,” a development initiative aimed at bolstering its electoral prospects in Bihar. Meanwhile, it has been accused of sidestepping tough questions raised by the opposition on issues of national security and governance.
Tharoor has thus far maintained a diplomatic silence on the internal criticism. However, sources close to him suggest he sees his role in the outreach mission as apolitical and in the broader interest of the country.
Party insiders believe the episode reflects a deeper ideological and generational divide within the Congress. While some view Tharoor’s cosmopolitan appeal as an asset, others see his independent streak as a challenge to the party’s traditional command structure.
As Congress grapples with internal dissent and a resurgent BJP, how it handles the Tharoor controversy could influence its unity and public image in the crucial months ahead.
