GG News Bureau
New Delhi 25th January : Senior Congress MP and Thiruvananthapuram representative Shashi Tharoor on Saturday issued a detailed clarification amid mounting speculation over his relationship with the Indian National Congress leadership, asserting that he has never violated the party’s official positions despite recent public disagreements.
Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Tharoor responded to swirling media reports suggesting a rift with the Congress high command. The controversy intensified after he supported Operation Sindoor, a diplomatic outreach in the Americas following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which he led India’s delegation and articulated a strong stance against terrorism and alleged Pakistani involvement.
Tharoor emphasised that his engagement on Operation Sindoor was driven by national interest rather than any deviation from Congress ideology. “At no stage have I violated any of the Congress’ positions in Parliament,” Tharoor said, stressing that the only public difference of principle arose from his backing of the anti-terror initiative. He added that he remains unapologetic about his stance, framing it as consistent with both his personal conviction and India’s broader geopolitical priorities.
The veteran parliamentarian also addressed reports surrounding his absence from a key Congress strategy meeting held in Delhi last week. While some party figures publicly downplayed his influence — with one senior MP reportedly remarking that “he’s not a big part” of Congress’s current direction — Tharoor clarified that he had informed party leadership ahead of time about his prior commitment to attend sessions at the Literature Festival.
Speaking on internal dynamics, Tharoor reaffirmed his belief in respecting democratic processes within the party, noting that differences of opinion are natural in a large political organisation. He refrained from airing grievances in the media, stating that concerns should be addressed within party forums rather than in public fora.
Political observers note that Tharoor’s clarification comes amid a broader backdrop of internal criticism within the Congress, especially following his past remarks that appeared to praise certain aspects of the government’s foreign policy. In various instances over the past year, he has reiterated that cooperation on national interest issues — even with rival political formations — does not signify a departure from party loyalty.
Analysts suggest that the senior leader is attempting to strike a delicate balance between upholding his independent views on national security and foreign policy, and maintaining unity within his party’s ranks in the run-up to future electoral contests.
Tharoor’s comments are likely aimed at calming speculation that he might be distancing himself from Congress or contemplating a switch to another political front — rumours he has consistently denied in the past.
