The Tharoor factor

After years of being sidelined in the Congress party, Shashi Tharoor appears to have decided that patience is not a virtue and so has decided to make a move for his political survival. His recent outspoken critique of dynastic politics was not a casual comment but a pointed message directed squarely at the party’s top leadership- Rahul, Priyanka, and Sonia Gandhi- highlighting growing frustration among reformist leaders with the continued dominance of the Gandhis in the party’s affairs. Recognized as one of Congress’s most eloquent and globally respected figures, Tharoor now appears unwilling to be the sacrificial lamb for the party’s entrenched leadership, particularly for Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal, often regarded as the Nehru-Gandhi family’s favored loyalist. Among Kerala’s electorate, Tharoor commands significant support and is often viewed as the preferred choice for the chief ministerial position should the Congress reclaim power in the upcoming state elections. However, his formidable rival, Venugopal, holds the advantage of the Gandhi family’s backing. Venugopal is being strategically positioned by the Gandhis as the likely candidate for the top post. This evolving power struggle between Tharoor and Venugopal has become increasingly explicit. Venugopal, a trusted associate of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, has steadily consolidated his influence over Kerala Congress politics through the AICC. The core message emanating from the central leadership is unequivocal- while Tharoor’s ascent will be curtailed, Venugopal remains the central leadership’s favored candidate for chief minister in Kerala. The implicit effect of this dynamic is that one cannot go far without the backing of the Gandhis. Tharoor,has perceptively grasped this reality and understands that merit alone no longer guarantees advancement within the Congress as the family dictates political fortunes. Yet this time, Tharoor is unwilling to remain sidelined and his critique of dynastic control signals a challenge emerging from within, launched by one of their most prominent leaders. His stance is both principled and pragmatic. On principle, Tharoor has long been a vocal critic of dynastic dominance, advocating for stronger institutional structures and greater internal party democracy. Practically, he also recognizes that continued marginalization would forever brand him as a perennial outsider rather than a contender for Kerala’s chief ministership or a significant political influencer. By openly confronting dynastic politics, Tharoor aims to reclaim the narrative and compel the party to seriously address issues of meritocracy, accountability, and local leadership choices ahead of a pivotal state election. Speculation in Kerala’s political circles and observers in Delhi, suggests that Tharoor is actively exploring alternative political pathways. The BJP, ever opportunistic, views him as a potential game-changer capable of splintering the Congress vote bank in Kerala. Simultaneously, Tharoor’s cosmopolitan and liberal persona may resonate with moderate voters disillusioned with both Congress and the Left. A coalition or even an informal understanding led by Tharoor, potentially bridging with BJP or Left-leaning forces, would profoundly disrupt Kerala’s traditionally rigid political order. For the BJP, such realignment would be a political coup. For Tharoor, it represents a clear repudiation of Congress’s stifling loyalism, which prioritizes allegiance over leadership talent that could end his political journey.Though risky, this bold stance reveals the reason why Tharoor may have decided to carve his own independent path rather than remain in a footnote in a party shackled by nostalgia.