'Difference Between Being In Party…': First Big Reaction By Congress To Shashi Tharoor Fiasco

Last Updated:May 17, 2025, 17:14 IST

It comes close on the heels of a recent comment by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh that MP Shashi Tharoor's opinions were not those of the party

The entire brouhaha began with the government announcing a multiparty delegation abroad, which included Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's name. (Image: PTI/File)

‘Congress mein rehne aur Congress ka hone mein antar hai’ (there is a difference between being in the Congress and to be of the Congress): this was the first big response from the Congress to Shashi Tharoor.

It comes close on the heels of a recent comment by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh that Tharoor’s opinions were not those of the party. This lack of unity comes just as the Grand Old Party has shown unity with the central government on Operation Sindoor.

The entire brouhaha began with the announcement of a multiparty delegation abroad, which included Tharoor’s name, on Pakistan’s cross-border activities and its conduct during the military standoff after the Pahalgam terror attack.

All parties, including the Congress, were asked to give names. According to Jairam Ramesh, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi submitted four names – Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Naseer Hussain. Tharoor’s name was not on the list.

Adding to the drama, Tharoor said he had already informed the party about being offered the job. So the question is, why then did the party not recommend his name?

Now, the Congress has sniffed mischief and feels that the Centre released the list without factoring in Congress names. Within 10 minutes, Ramesh released the names recommended by the Congress, and this has now become a tug of war between the party and the BJP.

The Congress is apparently unsure of where Tharoor’s loyalty lies. It feels that he needs to toe some kind of party line, which he has not so far. He ticks all the boxes for sure– from contesting the presidential polls to praising the Left Front government in Kerala to standing by the BJP-led NDA government on trade tariffs, handcuffing of illegal immigrants, and rubbishing claims by US President Donald Trump’s intervention for a ceasefire deal.

The Congress led by Rahul Gandhi has planned that while it will support the government, it will not shy away from raising the issue of US mediation during the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

What has really angered the Congress is Tharoor’s rejection of Trump’s claims. Ramesh’s comment that he did not represent the Congress opinion came only moments after a meeting over the issue was held by national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi, which Tharoor attended as well.

Tharoor has already expressed his gratitude for being a part of the list announced by the government. But, the Congress is unhappy with him. Ramesh’s strong remarks against him show that. It is only a matter of time the break happens.

News politics 'Difference Between Being In Party…': First Big Reaction By Congress To Shashi Tharoor Fiasco