Dismissing speculation about a potential political shift, senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday clarified that his recent remarks lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic leadership were not a signal of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Dr Tharoor’s op-ed, which appeared in a leading English daily and praised Modi’s “energy, dynamism and willingness to engage,” was widely circulated by the Prime Minister’s Office on social media. The endorsement sparked questions over the Congress leader’s future within his own party, particularly in light of his past association with the dissenting ‘G-23’ faction.
“It is not a sign of my leaping to join the Prime Minister's party... as some people have, unfortunately, been implying,” Dr Tharoor said in a statement. “It is a statement of national unity... national interest... and standing up for India.”
The four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram led the Indian parliamentary delegation to five countries, including the United States and Brazil, in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor — India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. His prominent role in the post-attack diplomatic outreach added to murmurs of alignment with the ruling dispensation.
The Congress MP, however, insisted that his participation had been guided solely by patriotic duty. “I did so to serve India... and I am very proud to have the opportunity to do so... believe that political differences should stop at the borders.”
Dr Tharoor further stated, “There is no such thing as a ‘BJP foreign policy’ or a ‘Congress foreign policy’, there is only ‘Indian foreign policy’ and ‘Indian national interest’.”
He stressed that his commentary merely acknowledged the success of a unified diplomatic effort, not an ideological shift. “It is an article in which I describe the success of this outreach mission, which, amongst other things, showcased the unity of all parties behind the matter of vital national interest.”
Also read: Tharoor praises PM Modi's outreach under Operation Sindoor
The article had drawn criticism from within Congress circles, where some labelled him a “super spokesperson” for what they perceived as the BJP’s “publicity stunts.”
Dr Tharoor’s choice of language—calling Modi a “prime asset for India”—was particularly jarring for sections of the Congress that have sharply criticised the Prime Minister’s foreign policy.
“So, I said the PM himself demonstrated dynamism and energy in engaging... he has travelled to more countries than any other PM, and done so to take India's message around the world,” Tharoor remarked.
“And, to my mind, what we all did was give his efforts that back-up by bringing to bear the strength of all of India’s different political parties, groups, and religions, and convey to the world that India stands united... today against terrorism, tomorrow it could be something else,” he added.
Questions about Tharoor’s future in the Congress have lingered since he joined the group of G-23 leaders who publicly questioned the Gandhi family's leadership in 2021 following a series of electoral setbacks. Despite these tensions, Tharoor has repeatedly affirmed his loyalty.
Earlier, last week, Tharoor said there had only been “differences of opinion... with only some elements of leadership,” and not with the Congress party’s ideology or broad direction.
When asked to define his current relationship with the Congress, Tharoor replied that he had been loyal to the party and its values for over 16 years — an assertion he has not publicly withdrawn.
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