New Delhi: A recent social media post by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, lauding the meeting between former US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, has provided fresh ammunition for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to target Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Tharoor's remarks, where he praised the cooperative spirit displayed by Trump and Mamdani after a heated mayoral election, have been interpreted by the BJP as a veiled criticism of the Congress party's alleged inability to move on from electoral defeats and prioritize national interests.
The controversy arose after Tharoor shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) of Trump and Mamdani interacting warmly at the White House. Tharoor commented, "This is how democracy should work. Fight passionately for your point of view in elections, with no rhetorical holds barred. But once it's over, and the people have spoken, learn to cooperate with each other in the common interests of the nation you are both pledged to serve". He further added, "I would love to see more of this in India, and I'm trying to do my part".
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was quick to seize upon Tharoor's statement, suggesting it was a direct message to Rahul Gandhi. In his own post on X, Poonawalla stated, "Once again, Shashi Tharoor reminds Congress to put India first, not Parivar. To behave democratically and not like sore losers. But will Rahul Gandhi get the message? One more Fatwa loading against Shashi?". Poonawalla's reference to "Parivar" (family) alludes to the BJP's long-standing allegation that the Congress party prioritizes the interests of the Gandhi family above all else. The "Fatwa" remark is a veiled reference to the criticism Tharoor often faces from within his own party for his independent views.
The meeting between Trump and Mamdani, which prompted Tharoor's comments, occurred after a high-voltage New York City mayoral election that saw the two engage in months of intense campaigning and sharp criticism of each other. Despite the adversarial nature of the election, both adopted a cordial tone during their meeting at the White House. Trump expressed confidence in Mamdani's ability to do a good job as mayor, and Mamdani reciprocated by acknowledging their shared love for New York City.
Tharoor's praise for the Trump-Mamdani meeting is not the first time his views have caused a stir within the Congress party. He has previously faced criticism for praising BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and L.K. Advani. Recently, his appreciation for PM Modi's Ramnath Goenka lecture sparked a backlash from a Congress colleague, who questioned his place in the party if he admired the BJP's methods. Tharoor has also written about the negative impacts of dynastic politics, citing the Gandhi-Nehru family as an example, further fueling criticism from within the Congress.
This latest incident underscores the ongoing tension between Tharoor's more independent stance and the traditional views held by some within the Congress party. While Tharoor has emphasized the need for cross-party cooperation and placing national interests first, his remarks are often interpreted by the BJP as a critique of the Gandhi family's influence and the Congress party's alleged reluctance to accept defeat. The BJP is using Tharoor's comments to amplify its narrative that the Congress is a dynastic party out of touch with the needs of the nation.
