In a fresh episode of internal discord, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has ignited a political firestorm by publicly praising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart L.K. Advani on his 98th birthday, prompting the Congress high command to swiftly distance itself from his remarks.
The controversy, erupting just days after Tharoor’s pointed critique of dynastic politics, underscores deepening rifts within the grand old party as it grapples with unity ahead of upcoming state elections.
Tharoor, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday to extend warm wishes to Advani, the architect of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and former Deputy Prime Minister.
“Wishing the venerable Shri L.K. Advani a very happy 98th birthday! His unwavering commitment to public service, his modesty & decency, and his role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible. A true statesman whose life of service has been exemplary,” Tharoor posted, accompanied by a photo of the BJP icon.
The tribute quickly drew sharp backlash from within Congress ranks and beyond. Islamo-leftist pro-Congress propagandist Arfa Khanum Sherwani, accused Tharoor of glossing over Advani’s controversial legacy, particularly his role in the 1990 Ram Rath Yatra, which triggered widespread communal riots following the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition.
“Sir, while you speak of statesmanship, for many of us his ‘trajectory of modern India’ meant terror and displacement. I was 12 when I fled my home during the riots… Millions of Muslims still live with that pain,” Sherwani wrote.
On Sunday, Tharoor fired back in a follow-up post, defending his stance with characteristic eloquence. Replying to a critic who urged a fuller reckoning of Advani’s career, he argued: “Agreed… but reducing his long years of service to one episode, however significant, is also unfair. The totality of Nehruji’s career cannot be judged by the China setback, nor Indira Gandhi’s by the Emergency alone. I believe we should extend the same courtesy to Advaniji.”
The response, drawing parallels between Advani and Congress icons Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, only amplified the uproar, with detractors labeling it as an attempt to “whitewash” Advani’s communal footprint.
Congress leadership moved rapidly to contain the damage. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera issued a statement on X: “Like always, Dr. Shashi Tharoor speaks for himself and the Indian National Congress outrightly dissociates itself from his most recent statement. That he continues to do so as a Congress MP and CWC member reflects the essential democratic and liberal spirit unique to INC.” The remarks highlighted the party’s internal tolerance for dissent – a double-edged sword that allows Tharoor’s voice but risks alienating its core base.
The episode is the latest in a string of flashpoints involving Tharoor, whose independent streak has long chafed against party orthodoxy. Just last week, on November 3, Tharoor penned an op-ed for an international publication decrying dynastic politics as a “grave threat to Indian democracy.”
He lambasted the Nehru-Gandhi family for “cementing the idea that political leadership can be a birthright,” while extending his critique to regional outfits like the Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, and DMK. “This idea has penetrated Indian politics across every party, in every region, and at every level,” he wrote, calling for a shift from “dynasty to meritocracy.”
That piece, too, provoked internal pushback. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari countered by invoking the sacrifices of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, who “gave their lives for the nation,” while spokesperson Rashid Alvi dismissed it as a non-issue, noting dynastic tendencies exist “across all walks of Indian life.”
BJP leaders, sensing an opening, pounced with glee. Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla dubbed Tharoor a “Khatron Ke Khiladi” for daring to challenge the Gandhis, tweeting: “Very insightful piece… he has launched a direct attack on India’s Nepo kid Rahul & chhota nepo kid Tejashwi Yadav!” Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan added that the remarks would “hurt Congress and RJD because their politics are limited to family.
“Tharoor’s history of perceived deviations has fueled speculation about his future in Congress. Earlier this year, he faced ire for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy and Operation Sindoor – a cross-border strike against Pakistan – drawing accusations of undermining party lines on national security. In Kerala, his absence from key campaigns and compliments for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government strained ties with state unit chief K. Muraleedharan, who once declared Tharoor unwelcome at events unless he aligned more closely with the party’s stance.
Yet, Tharoor has brushed off the tensions, insisting his comments stem from a “pro-India” ethos rather than disloyalty. In February, amid rumors of a rift, he quipped to reporters: “You all heard the podcast, what was the controversy about? It is a podcast… nothing there much about any political controversy.”
Party general secretary Randeep Surjewala has repeatedly affirmed Tharoor’s place in the “Congress family,” even as internal whispers of a potential exit – perhaps to the BJP – persist.
As Congress eyes local body polls in Kerala next month and assembly elections in 2026, Tharoor’s episodes risk amplifying perceptions of disarray. BJP’s Poonawalla escalated the barbs on Sunday, branding Congress the “Indira Nazi Congress” for its “dictatorial behaviour” in rebuking a mere birthday wish to a Bharat Ratna recipient. Supporters like BJP MP Pradeep Bhandari echoed the sentiment, questioning the party’s “compassion” in light of past Congress leaders’ engagements with controversial figures.
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