BJP claimed that Shashi Tharoor’s “marginalisation” in the party was inevitable after he contested the party’s presidential election against Gandhi family’s “nominee” Mallikarjun Kharge. File | Photo Credit: ANI
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s “marginalisation” in the party was inevitable after he contested the party’s presidential election against Gandhi family’s “nominee” Mallikarjun Kharge, the BJP claimed on Monday (February 24, 2025).
The Congress is nothing but a “proprietorship firm” of the Gandhi family, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya also charged.
The BJP’s comments came after Tharoor’s recent article in a newspaper drew criticism from some Congress leaders in Kerala for his perceived praise of the Left government in the state for boosting the investment climate.
“Shashi Tharoor’s marginalisation in the Congress was inevitable after he dared to contest the party’s presidential election against Mallikarjun Kharge, a nominee of the Gandhi family,” Mr. Malviya said in a post on X.
Mr. Tharoor’s downsizing would have been “swifter and more conspicuous” if not for his high public profile, he claimed.
“The Congress, after all, is nothing but a proprietorship firm of the Gandhi’s,” Mr. Malviya added.
Mr. Tharoor’s recent article in an English-language daily, praising the entrepreneurial growth in Kerala under the LDF government, kicked off a political storm in the state a week ago with the Congress questioning the basis of it, while the CPI(M) welcomed it.
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan sparked the debate on the issue by questioning the basis for Tharoor’s article and later Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal too sought to know the context behind the Thiruvananthapuram MP’s statements.
Mr. Tharoor on Sunday (February 23, 2025) clarified that he did not praise the CPI(M)-led government in Kerala, but instead highlighted the state’s progress in the start-up sector.
Speaking to reporters, the Congress MP said that his article in the daily did not contain any political references and emphasised that his focus was solely on Kerala’s growth in entrepreneurship and innovation, aiming to highlight the state’s development in that specific area.
However, Veekshanam Daily, next day published an editorial criticising Mr. Tharoor, without naming him, for praising the entrepreneurial growth of the state under the left government. It urged him not to betray the expectations of thousands of party workers ahead of the upcoming local body elections.
The national leadership of the Congress last Tuesday (February 18, 2025) stated that the controversy surrounding party leader Mr. Tharoor’s article was a closed chapter.
AICC general secretary Venugopal said that the party had spoken to Mr. Tharoor on the matter, and he had informed them that if accurate data on the state’s entrepreneurial growth were available, he would reconsider his stance.
“There is no need for any controversy over it. It is a closed chapter. That is the Congress’ view,” Mr. Venugopal told reporters New Delhi in response to a query.
Published – February 25, 2025 05:11 am IST
