Why The Congress Is Scared Of Tharoor?
Why the Congress Is Wary of Shashi Tharoor: Fear of Reform, Relevance—and Rivalry
The Indian National Congress, once the dominant political force in India, is today a party in crisis. As it struggles with successive electoral defeats, dwindling public support, and a credibility gap, internal tensions are becoming more visible than ever. Among these, one of the most intriguing dynamics is the party’s apparent wariness—some would say fear—of Shashi Tharoor, a three-time Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, a former United Nations diplomat, and an internationally respected intellectual.
Though Tharoor is officially a Congress leader, his treatment within the party suggests a deep-seated discomfort with his rise. The reasons go beyond mere ideological differences or regional rivalries. At the heart of it lies a fear of being eclipsed—especially by someone who threatens to outshine Rahul Gandhi, the party’s reluctant yet persistent prime ministerial face.
The Shadow of Rahul Gandhi
For over a decade, Rahul Gandhi has been positioned as the natural leader of the Congress party. As the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, his ascent was meant to be organic and inevitable. However, repeated electoral failures and a perceived lack of decisiveness have tarnished his public image. Despite moments of renewed energy—like the Bharat Jodo Yatra—Rahul still struggles with questions about leadership clarity, political consistency, and mass appeal.
Enter Shashi Tharoor—a man who combines intellectual credibility with oratory brilliance, global exposure with cultural rootedness, and reformist zeal with a technocratic touch. Tharoor’s growing popularity, especially among urban, educated voters and the youth, casts a long shadow over Rahul Gandhi’s rather uneven public persona. The contrast is unmistakable—and, for many within the Congress inner circle, unsettling.
A Leader Who Was Not Meant to Rise
Tharoor’s journey within Congress is unique. Unlike many senior leaders who rose due to family background or loyalty to the high command, Tharoor’s entry was through merit. A globally celebrated diplomat and writer, he returned to India and contested the 2009 elections—winning with ease. Despite his success and growing public stature, Tharoor has never been integrated into the party’s core leadership structure. Instead, he is often treated as an outsider—welcomed for his eloquence during debates, but side-lined when it comes to decision-making.
This treatment stems from the insecurity his rise generates. In a party where most leaders owe their positions to allegiance rather than merit, Tharoor’s independent appeal and self-earned stature are threatening. The leadership is afraid of fostering a parallel power center, especially one that might eventually challenge the authority of the Gandhi family.
The Presidential Challenge: A Turning Point
The Congress presidential election of 2022 was a watershed moment. Shashi Tharoor stood against Mallikarjun Kharge—the unofficial candidate endorsed by the Gandhis. Though Kharge won by a wide margin, Tharoor’s campaign was notable for its tone, clarity, and resonance with party workers. Without access to the party machinery or official backing, he still secured over 1,000 votes—revealing a significant appetite for internal democracy and change.
More importantly, the election brought to light an alternate vision for the Congress—one that embraced transparency, technology, youth participation, and grassroots engagement. Tharoor’s ideas, such as decentralizing power and rejuvenating the party’s intellectual base, stood in stark contrast to the inertia that grips the Congress today.
For the party’s old guard and the loyalists of the Gandhi family, this was alarming. Tharoor wasn’t just an eloquent speaker anymore; he was a credible leadership alternative.
The Media Advantage
One of the major factors that magnify the Congress’s discomfort with Tharoor is his media appeal. Tharoor is a darling of national and international media. He trends on social platforms, his speeches go viral, and his interviews often become headline material. His command over language, combined with sharp intellect and cultural sensitivity, makes him a compelling public figure.
In contrast, Rahul Gandhi, despite years of exposure, often finds himself on the defensive. His gaffes, inconsistencies, and at times awkward public interactions make him vulnerable to criticism. Every time Tharoor delivers a powerful parliamentary speech or pens a thoughtful op-ed, the comparison becomes inevitable—and unfavourable to Rahul.
This media magnetism is not lost on the Congress leadership, which remains paranoid about giving too much space to anyone who might overshadow the Gandhis.
Ideological Flexibility vs. Rigid Orthodoxy
Another source of discomfort is Tharoor’s ideological elasticity. While he is firmly liberal in his worldview, he does not shy away from embracing India’s civilizational heritage. Whether it’s his open support for temple restoration, his pride in Hindu culture, or his call for cultural decolonization, Tharoor reflects a kind of modern Indianness that resonates across ideologies.
In a Congress that is often stuck defending an outdated secular framework that alienates both ends of the spectrum, Tharoor’s nuanced positions offer a fresh alternative. However, that also makes him suspect in the eyes of Congress’s entrenched secularist camp, which fears any move that appears even remotely aligned with cultural nationalism.
Kerala and the Regional Rivalries
Even within his home state of Kerala, Tharoor faces hostility from local Congress leaders. His growing popularity among minorities and moderate voters has unsettled the traditional leadership. His massive reception in Muslim-majority areas, for instance, led to visible friction with other Congress leaders who see him as a threat to their regional influence.
The fact that Tharoor can draw cross-party support, appeal to undecided voters, and mobilize youth makes him a wild card—something the Congress finds difficult to control.
Conclusion: A Party at Crossroads
The Congress party today faces an existential dilemma. It can no longer rely on dynastic loyalty or ideological rigidity to revive itself. If it wants to reclaim its position as a national alternative, it must embrace merit, diversity of opinion, and fresh leadership. Shashi Tharoor embodies that alternative.
However, instead of nurturing such leaders, the Congress appears more interested in safeguarding the Gandhi brand—even at the cost of internal democracy. Its fear of Tharoor is not rooted in ideological differences alone, but in the fear of being exposed, outclassed, and possibly replaced.
Until the Congress learns to accommodate dissenting but constructive voices like Tharoor, its revival will remain elusive. In sidelining him, it is not just punishing a talented leader—it is alienating an entire generation that sees in Tharoor the qualities the party desperately needs.
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