Congress MP's Birthday Greetings to BJP Veteran Spark Political Storm
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has found himself at the center of another political controversy after extending birthday wishes to veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani. The Thiruvananthapuram MP's social media post celebrating Advani's 98th birthday drew immediate criticism from various quarters, including within his own party supporters.
Tharoor's Defense and Historical Parallels
Defending his decision to wish the BJP patriarch, Tharoor drew historical parallels while responding to criticism on platform X. The Congress leader argued that political figures should be judged by their entire career rather than isolated incidents. He specifically mentioned that India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru shouldn't be evaluated solely based on the 1962 China war setback, nor should Indira Gandhi be defined exclusively by the Emergency period.
Tharoor's original birthday message described Advani as having "unwavering commitment to public service, his modesty & decency, and his role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible". This characterization prompted strong reactions from critics who pointed to Advani's involvement in the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992.
Congress Party's Official Response
The Indian National Congress moved quickly to distance itself from Tharoor's remarks. Pawan Khera, head of the Congress media and publicity department, issued an official statement clarifying the party's position. He emphasized that Tharoor was speaking in his personal capacity and that the Congress "outrightly dissociates itself from his most recent statement."
Khera's statement notably described Tharoor's actions as reflecting "the essential democratic and liberal spirit unique to INC", suggesting that while the party disagreed with his position, it respected his right to express individual opinions.
This isn't the first time the 69-year-old Kerala MP has created discomfort for his party leadership. Tharoor has developed a reputation for expressing independent views that sometimes contradict official party lines.
Pattern of Independent Stances
Earlier this year, Tharoor wrote about dynastic politics, describing how the Nehru-Gandhi family had "cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright". He characterized dynastic politics as posing a "grave threat to Indian democracy" and advocated for replacing "dynasty for meritocracy".
In February, the four-time MP faced criticism from within his party after praising the start-up ecosystem in Kerala under Left Front rule. His newspaper article highlighted that "Kerala is beginning to stand out as a model of economic innovation and sustainable growth" under the current administration.
The pattern continued in June when Tharoor led a multi-party delegation to the United States and South American countries to explain India's position regarding conflicts with Pakistan. His comment about India breaching the Line of Control for the first time during the 2016 surgical strikes created discomfort within Congress circles.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had previously clarified regarding Tharoor's statements on India-Pakistan relations that when "Tharoor speaks, it is not the party's opinion", establishing a clear distinction between the MP's personal views and official party positions.
The latest controversy highlights the ongoing tension between party discipline and individual expression within Indian political parties, particularly as the Congress party navigates its position in opposition politics.
