In a dramatic internal rift within the Congress party, moves are reportedly underway to silence senior leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. At the heart of the issue lies the party’s fear that Tharoor, known for his independent views and global credibility, may speak in support of national interest and praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, especially in the context of India’s global diplomatic offensive following Operation Sindoor.
Sources reveal that Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi and senior AICC functionaries, is deeply concerned that Tharoor could derail the opposition’s planned attack on the central government by offering a nuanced, even appreciative, account of India’s international positioning post-Sindoor. His recent trip to the United States, seen as part of India’s outreach following the operation, could become a political flashpoint if he is allowed to speak freely in Parliament.
In response, there is reportedly active consideration within the Congress to impose an internal gag order on Tharoor, effectively preventing him from speaking in the Lok Sabha on behalf of the party. One proposal even includes issuing a formal whip to bar him from speaking during debates linked to foreign policy or national security, though such a move could open up a legal and political minefield. Questions are already being raised as to whether such a speech ban, enforced through a whip, would have any legal standing, especially in matters unrelated to voting.
Party insiders say the leadership fears Tharoor’s intervention in Parliament would not only weaken the Congress’s attack on the Modi government but also place the party in a politically awkward position. Tharoor’s potential support for the Prime Minister’s leadership during a critical national security operation would offer ammunition to the BJP and fracture the opposition’s narrative.
The government is reportedly planning to offer diplomatic outreach groups an opportunity in the House to speak about their foreign engagements after Operation Sindoor. If this happens, it could lead to a political explosion, both inside Parliament and within the Congress party.
Tharoor himself has been increasingly vocal about the constraints placed on him within the party. He has reportedly complained that he is often sidelined, given limited speaking time, and that key issues are instead handed to Congress MPs unfamiliar with the subjects, or even with the language required to debate them effectively.
Kerala Congress Snubs Tharoor as Nationalist Stand Deepens Rift
The Congress leadership in Kerala has also turned its back on the MP. Despite his national and international stature, Tharoor was notably excluded from recent party programmes in the state. Recently, he was in Kochi on the day of an important DCC protest in Ernakulam but was not invited to participate, a clear snub that underscores his growing isolation within the state unit.
Local leaders, including KPCC members, have been openly demanding his expulsion from the party. The Kerala Congress unit, once seen as Tharoor’s support base, has now aligned itself with the national leadership in distancing itself from him. The decision on possible disciplinary action has reportedly been left to the party high command.
Adding to his troubles, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, national organization general secretary K.C. Venugopal, and former KPCC chief K. Muraleedharan have all taken public jibes at Tharoor. One Congress MP even mocked him by sharing an image of scavenger birds, while a Congress mouthpiece labelled him an “opportunist.”
The criticism appears to stem not just from Tharoor’s recent foreign policy remarks but from a broader pattern of defiance. Tharoor has not hesitated to praise Prime Minister Modi when he believes national interest is served and has even criticized Indira Gandhi’s Emergency-era excesses, an unforgivable act for the Congress old guard.
Yet Tharoor remains unapologetic. At a recent public event he reaffirmed his stance: “The country comes first, the party comes later.” He stressed that when it comes to national security, all parties must cooperate, and that speaking in the nation’s interest should not be viewed as betrayal.
“I speak not only for Congress workers but for all Indians,” Tharoor said. The statement, though seemingly benign, is being interpreted within Congress circles as a coded challenge to the party’s current leadership.
With the monsoon session of Parliament around the corner, all eyes are now on what role Shashi Tharoor will play. Will he be muzzled by his own party? Will he defy the whip, if issued, and risk expulsion? Or will the BJP provide him a national stage that further alienates him from Congress while boosting his profile as a statesman?
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