Shashi Tharoor’s political journey within the Congress has often resembled that of a gifted but unwelcome guest. Despite his global stature, eloquence, and bureaucratic pedigree, Tharoor continues to face marginalisation within a party that seems increasingly allergic to independent thinking. The latest trigger? His participation in the Modi government’s outreach mission, Operation Sindoor—a global diplomatic effort launched in the aftermath of the brutal killing of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.
Tharoor, one of seven Indian parliamentarians chosen to travel abroad and convey India’s stance on cross-border terrorism, led delegations to Panama, Guyana, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States. His articulate defence of India’s position—backed by nuance and conviction—won praise abroad. But back home, it has earned him the wrath of his own party.
The Congress is livid that one of its own participated in a BJP-led government mission without its formal consent. The party had, reportedly, proposed its list of nominees, one of whom had questionable credentials and a history of anti-national commentary. When the government chose Tharoor instead, the reaction from 24 Akbar Road was one of fury, not pride. That a party MP could be trusted on the world stage, at a time of national crisis, should have been a moment of bipartisan unity. Instead, Congress treated it as a betrayal.
Matters escalated when Tharoor penned a column praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “energy, dynamism and willingness to engage” as a “prime asset for India on the global stage.” He called Operation Sindoor a “moment of national resolve,” and urged political unity on issues of national security. For a man who once described Modi as “a great communicator but divisive,” this was not a U-turn—it was statesmanship.
But Congress doesn’t do nuance. In today’s Congress, ideology is loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family, not the nation. Tharoor’s sin was simple: he put India first. For that, he’s been branded everything from a closet Modi fan to, absurdly, a “traitor” by online party loyalists. Kerala Congress President K. Muralidharan, no less, declared that Tharoor is no longer welcome in state party meetings. The message was loud and clear: Tharoor is not “one of us.”
This is not the first time Congress has shown disdain for Tharoor’s independent streak. He contested the party presidency in 2022, challenging the high command’s anointed candidate, Mallikarjun Kharge. It was a symbolic contest—Tharoor never had the organisational backing—but he fought with grace, choosing to challenge the coronation culture within the party. For his defiance, he was cold-shouldered, and post-election, largely sidelined.
To Tharoor’s credit, he has never behaved like a petulant rebel. His criticisms of Congress have been measured; his nationalism dignified. He has consistently taken stands that align with national interest, even when they run counter to his party’s line—be it on foreign policy, cross-border terrorism, or diplomatic overtures. In the aftermath of India’s four-day conflict with Pakistan earlier this year, he openly backed the government’s military posture, while his party dithered, mumbling about international law and restraint.
The truth is, Congress doesn’t know what to do with someone like Tharoor. He is too urbane for the street-fighting politics of Kerala, too intellectual for the echo chambers of Delhi, and too independent-minded for a party obsessed with sycophancy. While dynasts and courtiers enjoy positions of privilege, Tharoor—a three-time MP with a global CV—faces exclusion.
And now, with the Kerala state unit turning on him, the writing may be on the wall. The question is: how long can Shashi Tharoor remain in a party that increasingly treats nationalism as betrayal and views intellect as insubordination?
Should Tharoor decide to walk away, it would not be an ideological shift—it would be an existential one. India needs articulate statesmen who can communicate its case to the world with credibility, without sounding like propagandists. In Tharoor, the country has just that: a diplomat-politician who can bridge the domestic and the global with finesse.
It would be no surprise if the BJP—always on the lookout for articulate voices with international heft—finds a place for him. A Modi cabinet berth, particularly in the realm of foreign policy, public diplomacy, or international affairs, would not only suit his skill set but also reinforce the image of a party willing to co-opt talent across the spectrum.
In the final analysis, Congress’s failure to nurture Shashi Tharoor will be remembered as a self-inflicted wound. As the grand old party continues its descent into irrelevance, it is only fitting that its loss becomes India’s—and potentially the BJP’s—gain.
