Shashi Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, is making headlines again. But this time, it’s not just his eloquence or literary finesse that’s grabbing attention—it’s his intriguing political waltz. Once a fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor seems to be recalibrating his stance. The man who once painted Modi as an autocratic leader now finds himself tossing in unexpected bouquets. A strategic shift? A mere academic admiration? Or is this just another chapter in Tharoor’s well-documented ‘intellectual fence-sitting’?
The Congress leadership, already reeling from internal contradictions, is reportedly unimpressed with Tharoor’s newfound moderation. In a party where dissent is tolerated only if it aligns with the ‘official’ narrative, Tharoor’s praise for Modi has raised more than a few eyebrows. For someone who stood at the forefront of anti-Modi rhetoric, his recent statements almost sound like a political rebranding exercise. His call to acknowledge Modi’s foreign policy successes and effective leadership has left Congress stalwarts squirming.
But Tharoor isn’t the only one experiencing this curious case of political realignment. Once die-hard Modi critics like P. Chidambaram, Omar Abdullah, and even Jaya Bachchan have lately found themselves—shockingly—showering praises on the man they once derided. Chidambaram acknowledged Modi’s decisive economic moves, Omar Abdullah admitted the BJP’s growing political appeal, and Jaya Bachchan lauded the PM for his governance.
Social media, never missing an opportunity for wit, has immortalized this political volte-face. A viral post quotes Modi himself, cheekily declaring: “I need new haters; the old ones have become my fans.”
So, what’s cooking?
For Tharoor, the answer might lie in a blend of political pragmatism and personal ambition. His aspirations within the Congress party have often been met with roadblocks, most notably during the recent Congress presidential elections, where the party old guard threw its weight behind Mallikarjun Kharge. With the Congress seemingly resistant to fresh leadership, is Tharoor testing the waters elsewhere?
It’s not uncommon for Indian politicians to switch gears when the winds of power shift. The sheer survival instinct in politics often dictates a strategic embrace of the inevitable. For some, it’s an effort to stay relevant; for others, it’s a tactical hedge against future possibilities.
Meanwhile, Congress is facing an existential crisis. Leaders like Tharoor flirting with the idea of ‘constructive opposition’ is a reminder of the party’s deeper malaise. If the Grand Old Party doesn’t evolve, it risks becoming a historical footnote rather than a political force.
As for Modi, he remains unfazed, watching his former detractors navigate their own political dilemmas. After all, in Indian politics, the line between adversaries and admirers is often as thin as a well-timed electoral shift. And if Modi’s critics-turned-cheerleaders are anything to go by, the Prime Minister may just have the last laugh—again.
