Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has once again found himself at the center of a political storm within his own party after publicly commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident occurred on November 18, 2025, following a closed-door event in Delhi, further straining his relationship with the Congress leadership.
Praise for the Prime Minister
Attending the Goenka Lecture, Tharoor, the Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister's address. He described the speech as a dual-focused vision, combining a clear economic outlook with a powerful cultural call to action.
The Congress MP specifically highlighted and agreed with Modi's central argument on the need for India to liberate itself from a 200-year-old colonial mindset. Tharoor wrote that he valued the Prime Minister's emphasis on reinstating a sense of pride in India's rich heritage, diverse languages, and ancient knowledge systems.
A Sensitive Political Context
These comments, however, did not emerge in a vacuum. They arrive at a particularly delicate moment for the Congress party, which has been feeling uneasy about Tharoor's recent political stance.
This is not the first instance of the MP praising the Prime Minister; he had previously commended Modi's leadership during the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. This recurring pattern of bipartisan approval has caused significant concern within party circles, with many fearing it signals a more profound ideological shift away from the party's established line.
Intensified Speculation and Fallout
The visual of Tharoor seated alongside BJP leaders at the event, combined with his recent critique of dynastic politics, has added fuel to the fire. This has dramatically intensified speculation about his future political trajectory.
Many within the political arena are now openly questioning whether these actions are indicative of a potential realignment. The repeated praise for a political rival, coupled with public criticism of a system prevalent in his own party, has created a fresh and visible rift within the Congress, posing a new challenge for the party's unity.
