MUMBAI (Feb 26, 2026) — Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has hit back at critics who suggest his recent public statements signal a shift toward the Prime Minister or the ruling BJP, asserting that his political loyalty and core convictions remain firmly with the Congress.
Loyalty vs. Objective Praise
Speaking in an exclusive interview with NDTV, Tharoor addressed the internal disquiet within the Congress caused by his occasional praise for the government’s foreign policy and symbolic initiatives:
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Consistency: Tharoor emphasized that his political conduct has been consistent for 17 years. “Show me where I’ve been inconsistent… My convictions, values, and principles have been unchanged for almost half a century,” he stated.
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Party Discipline: He clarified that while he airs views “freely and frankly,” he strictly adheres to the party whip in Parliament and raises internal differences privately with leadership.
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The “Big Tent” Philosophy: Tharoor described the Congress as a “big tent” party that accommodates a range of voices, including his own.
The “Rajaji” Context
The latest spark for controversy was a social media post where Tharoor praised the replacement of a colonial statue with a bust of C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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He aligned himself with Rajaji’s liberal and intellectual convictions, noting that since Rajaji’s party no longer exists, he found the Congress to be the closest ideological fit.
Addressing the Opposition Narrative
While some party members argue that praising the Prime Minister’s diplomatic outreach dilutes the opposition’s message, Tharoor maintains that recognizing national achievements is not a partisan endorsement.
“It doesn’t mean you’re switching sides… I haven’t switched anywhere,” Tharoor reiterated, dismissing media overreaction to his “long paper trail” of 20 books and decades of articles.
