Congress Fumes As Shashi Tharoor Does Not Stop Praising Modi
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2025-06-25 12:18:10
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Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram and a prominent public intellectual, has once again found himself at the centre of a political storm - not from his opponents, but from within his own party. His repeated public praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including after the recent India-Pakistan military flare-up and in the wake of Modi's post-election outreach, has reportedly left the Congress high command uncomfortable, prompting Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to issue a veiled but pointed rebuke.
The latest flashpoint came when Tharoor, speaking on a television panel following the brief India-Pakistan military escalation in June 2025, commended Modi's "measured and resolute response" to Pakistan's provocation. He praised the Prime Minister for "avoiding jingoism while protecting national interest," a remark that was quickly picked up and amplified by BJP leaders and sympathizers as a rare endorsement from a senior Congress voice.
This came on the heels of Tharoor's earlier praise of Modi's tone and gestures following the 2024 general elections, where he had described Modi's outreach to opposition leaders as "gracious" and "a welcome step in a democracy." He was also one of the few Congress leaders to publicly welcome the Prime Minister's invitation to attend the NDA swearing-in ceremony, even as the Congress chose to officially stay away.
Adding fuel to the fire, Tharoor was included by the Centre (without consulting the Congress) in one of the teams that went to foreign nations to build international goodwill after the recent war with Pakistan. The party was furious when he accepted the invitation and saw it as a reward for praising Modi.
Sensing the growing discontent within the party, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the issue without taking names. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he said, "country first for us, but for some people, it's Modi first." The comment was widely interpreted as a thinly veiled shot at Tharoor and a public warning that such deviations from the party line will no longer be tolerated quietly.
Tharoor, characteristically diplomatic, has defended his statements as examples of "parliamentary courtesy" and "civilised political discourse," insisting that "disagreeing with someone does not preclude acknowledging when they do something right." However, many in the Congress believe that such gestures - however well-intentioned - undermine the party's core message and dilute its opposition stance.
As Congress attempts to sharpen its ideological edge and rebuild itself as a credible alternative to the BJP, Tharoor's brand of statesmanlike centrism is increasingly seen as a double-edged sword. While admired by some for his global appeal and oratory, his tendency to swim against the tide is testing the party's patience - and unity.
Whether Tharoor adjusts his public posture or continues his maverick streak may well determine his future standing within the Congress - and the nature of his influence in its evolving power structure. Many experts see him crossing over to the BJP - sooner, rather than later. After he recently wrote an article in a leading newspaper praising Operation Sindoor and Prime Minister Modi, he was asked whether he will join the BJP. Tharoor replied that the article and the praise "is not a sign of my leaping to join the Prime Minister's party."
