Shashi Tharoor, the leader of the Congress, knew full well that he would never be able to win the election when he entered the race for the party presidency late last year. Certainly not without the Gandhis’ support. Even yet, it was a calculated gamble, with one consideration being that the label of potential presidential candidate may elevate him above other Congressmen. But it wasn’t meant to be.
Tharoor seems to be ignored by the party hierarchy ever since that tragic election. He is now regarded as the man who marched against the grain and, worse, as an ambitious man. Ambition is a strength in most situations, but not in Congress because Rahul Gandhi, who is largely regarded as the party’s true power centre, views power as poison. Tharoor not only competed against the establishment, but he also received a very respectable rating for a person who was seen as a lightweight. All of these traits don’t fit with the leadership structure of Congress.
When freshly elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge abolished the CWC and established a steering committee in its place, Tharoor’s isolation became clear. Tharoor was left out of the latter group. Additionally, he was not permitted to participate in the subsequent campaigns in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The Kerala Youth Congress revoked an invitation to an event where Tharoor was scheduled to speak in November.Tharoor has experience throwing well-crafted punches as a former UN official. Consider the case of Article 370. It was never intended to be permanent, according to Tharoor’s declared position, but he questioned how it was revoked. Compare this to Gandhi’s impulsive opposition to the action in favour of reinstating the Article.
Video Courtesy: NewsX
The majority of the Opposition’s allies supported the administration, making this stance unpopular. Gandhi may have modified his criticism by emphasising the unconstitutional procedure, taking a cue from Tharoor. He is a strong opponent for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in discussions of Hinduism and nationalism, two issues that have plagued the Modi era. He has now shifted his attention to Kerala politics amid rumours that he may run in the state elections in 2026. That has not been well received by the influential Kerala faction, which controls Congress politics on a national level. Gandhi and his dependable General Secretary KC Venugopal both serve as members of parliament for the state. Venugopal probably wouldn’t want Tharoor towering over his backyard.
Many others dislike Tharoor’s lateral admission into the party, and a G23 member once said to this author, Tharoor didn’t consult any of us before making his candidature. He does not support the team. His presidential campaign received little support from the G23, let alone the establishment camp (Tharoor was a signatory to the letter). How would one explain the important party positions that leaders like Madhusudan Mistry and Mohan Prakash occupy if not being someone who has advanced the ranks of the party is a problem? In actuality, a large portion of Gandhi’s inner circle of leaders are outsiders. Therefore, it is untrue to claim that Tharoor lacks experience or hasn’t advanced in the ranks.
So what might be the issue? Share your views with us in the comment section below.
