Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s frequent travels have ruffled many feathers across the party. The humble bird has become a symbol of the ongoing conflict between Tharoor and several party members.
While Tharoor was wrapping up his shoot for Russian TV in Moscow and attending meetings with Russian diplomats and officials, two significant events occurred back home. Firstly, there was speculation that Tharoor had a private meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that his overseas travel was part of a diplomatic mission. However, sources close to Tharoor informed News18 that no such meeting took place. Secondly, Tharoor’s adversary, KC Venugopal, hinted to reporters that the Congress might take action against the Thiruvanthapuram MP, advising him to be prepared for anything and follow the party line.
Shortly after these developments, Tharoor posted a cryptic message stating that a bird does not need permission to fly. Twenty-four hours later, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s close aide, Manickam Tagore, issued a cautionary post warning that one must be careful while flying, as there could be vultures, with a concluding remark about predators wearing patriotism as feathers.
Tharoor insists that his message of patriotism is genuine. Following his return from Russia, he plans to attend seminars on women empowerment in London, where he is also expected to meet officials, and he will do the same in Greece. Despite the criticism and taunts from his party, Tharoor is resolute and has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving the party. Sources close to Tharoor assert that he has always spoken independently and has never pretended to represent anyone else.
Currently, the Congress party does not trust him. They believe Tharoor has repeatedly and intentionally made statements that embarrass the party and Rahul Gandhi. For instance, when the Congress discussed surgical strikes during Dr Manmohan Singh’s tenure, Tharoor mentioned that the first surgical strikes were under Modi’s government. A senior leader questioned the necessity of Tharoor’s comment, emphasising that he is an MP from the Congress party.
The upcoming parliamentary session will be interesting as the united opposition confronts the government and the Prime Minister over Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. The BJP might use this opportunity to draw attention to Tharoor. For now, it appears that Tharoor will likely enter Parliament alone, with both the Congress and Tharoor believing it’s just a matter of time.