Congress-Tharoor rift deepens as Centre names Kerala MP for key role

The tensions between the Congress leadership and Shashi Tharoor escalated on Saturday after the Centre ignored the party's recommendations and picked the Kerala MP for its diplomatic outreach on its conflict with Pakistan.

Tharoor was among the seven MPs named by the Centre to lead an all-party delegation to key countries to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and articulate India's position on Operation Sindoor.

However, shortly after the Centre announced the names, Congress's media in-charge Jairam Ramesh, surprisingly, revealed that Tharoor was not among the leaders recommended by the party. The Congress's picks were Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.

"The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, spoke with the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The Congress was asked to submit the names of four MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India's stance on terrorism from Pakistan," Ramesh tweeted.

He said the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, wrote to the Union Minister recommending the names of the four MPs. But the Centre snubbed the Congress's suggestions and went ahead to pick Tharoor has hit a nerve in the party.

While not directly addressing the controversy, Tharoor said in a cryptic remark that when the national interest is involved and his services are required, he would not be found wanting.

The fresh development adds to the deepening chasm between the Congress and Tharoor. The Kerala MP has been making ripples in political circles this year by expressing views that have been viewed in favour of the BJP-led Centre.

Last week, Tharoor went against the Congress's diktat to defend the Centre when the opposition went all out against the BJP over Trump's interference in the truce and its decision to agree to the ceasefire. As Tharoor earned brickbats from the Congress, with a section of leaders saying he had crossed the 'Lakshman Rekha', the Lok Sabha MP said he made the remarks as an "Indian and a proud citizen", and did not reflect the official stand of the party.

Earlier, the Congress MP was seen sharing the stage with PM Modi at the Vizhinjam port inauguration. Previously, Tharoor had praised the Centre's neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, sparking speculation about a rift with the Congress.