Re: [SP(I)] Fw: Column on Shashi Tharoor and the moral quandary of the Congress

[Sukla Sen]

<<Political parties in India ostensibly have two kinds of rebels or dissenters. The first kind of rebels are the common, pedestrian variety. They crudely bargain for power. They could be seeking an election ticket, a higher position, a hefty ministerial berth or greater funds. They threaten to disrupt if their expectations are not met.>>

Shashi Tharoor, despite all his sophistication, belongs to this above category.

This is, incidentally, what I had penned on Tharoor vs. Congress on 17 10 2022:

Tharoor is pitching himself as the candidate for "change".

Right at this very moment, the party is engaged in a massive exercise of "transformation"--into an active organ for struggle having organic links with ordinary Indians, via the historic, and unprecedented in independent India, Bharat Jodo Yatra.

This seems to have completely evaded Tharoor's attention. 

His call for "change", therefore, looks quite like a veiled attempt at throwing a spanner in the works already underway. 

Highly smart and suave...,Tharoor is, all said done, a sort of newcomer--a valued "guest artist".

Kharge--in contrast--is very much a veteran, a Dalit, a fighter--rugged and gritty. Can communicate in several languages -- including Hindi and English.

...

The media is paying disproportionate attention to this poll--virtually campaigning for Tharoor--presumably, in a deliberate attempt to divert popular attention from the gigantic BJY.

In the process, rather paradoxically, attention had to be willy-nilly focussed on the Congress Party.

(Ref.: 'Mallikarjun Kharge or Shashi Tharoor: Congress presidential poll underway to elect new party chief' at <https://share.google/yfm3juHtqImgNs8NC>.)

As was the case last time, this time as well, the godi media, working on behalf of the incumbent regime, is weaponising Tharoor to undercut the credibility of the Congress/RG.

If he was then the mascot for "change" -- moral rebellion against dynastic dominance, this time it's ("nonpartisan") "national interest".

The claim that "[e]ver since he became the most eloquent, nonpartisan voice by leading an official delegation to foreign nations to explain India’s war against terrorism, his party has suspected his loyalty" is just plain lie.

He, ideologically right-of-centre and an import by Manmohan Singh without any past history of association with the Congress organisation, has a long history of problematic relations with the party. 

He had to be dropped from the Union Cabinet because of his contemptuous and disparaging comment about those who travel by the economy class -- the "cattle class" as he had put it -- in plane. (Ref.: I. 'Cong backs Gehlot's call to sack Tharoor' at <https://share.google/Shy5gR95u70QJmtvE>, 18 09 2009 and II. 'Tharoor on his ‘t’way out?' at <https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2009/Sep/19/tharoor-on-his-tway-out-87574.html>, 18 05 2012.)

His propensity to display his elite status is even otherwise unconcealed. (Ref., e.g.: <https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/step-inside-shashi-tharoor-modest-sarkari-bungalow-in-delhi-featuring-mf-husain-painting-indoor-gym-endless-books-101751697649124.html>.)

To cut a long story short, things had sort of come to a head during the presidential election of the Congress.

His relations with the state party are even more problematic. A rank outsider. Of course, he nurses his constituency pretty well.

He, however, was eventually made a member of the CWC in recognition of his formidable level of competence.

After his, pretty much anticipated, failure to win the president's post, he started eyeing the state chief minister's post. Having been cold-shouldered by the party, he began getting cozy with Modi. (Even otherwise, he was never on the same page with RG vis-a-vis Modi/BJP/RSS. He hardly participated in the BJP and perhaps not at all in the BJNY.)

All in all, he remains quite a misfit in the Congress spearheaded by RG toiling hard to unseat Modi and his regime prioritising hatred.

He's, understandably, hunting for a new slot for himself matching his ambitions and lifestyle.

S Jaishankar is, consequently, under threat.

But, it won't be easy.

Apart from other things, Modi hates people of competence.

Peace Is Doable

On Wed, Jul 9, 2025, 06:45 'Sandeep Pandey' via Socialist Party (India) <socialist-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Sugata Sriraju <sugata...@gmail.com>

To: Sugata Srinivasaraju <sugat...@gmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 07:16:38 AM GMT+5:30

Subject: Column on Shashi Tharoor and the moral quandary of the Congress

In my New Indian Express column, published last Saturday (05 July 2025), I wrote on how Shashi Tharoor has put the Congress party in a moral quandary. This may be similar to how VP Singh and Somnath Chatterjee put their party establishments in a morally piquant situation, in their time. Open to read Link: https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2025/Jul/04/heartburn-over-rebels-with-a-cause

Best,

Sugata. 

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SUGATA SRINIVASARAJU
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Karnataka, India

X: @sugataraju | www.sugataraju.in 

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