Shashi Tharoor, a prominent Congress Member of Parliament, has found an unlikely ally in the BJP following his positive remarks on the meeting between former US President Donald Trump and NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Tharoor lauded the spirit of cooperation that follows fierce electoral contests, emphasizing the need for political factions to unite for national service once the people have made their choice. The BJP seized this opportunity, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla supporting Tharoor’s viewpoint while simultaneously launching a veiled critique of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party’s approach to political opposition.
On the social media platform X, Tharoor articulated his vision for democratic engagement: “Fight passionately for your point of view in elections, with no rhetorical holds barred. But once it’s over, & the people have spoken, learn to cooperate with each other in the common interests of the nation you are both pledged to serve. I would love to see more of this in India — and am trying to do my part.” His comments were inspired by the recent meeting at the White House between Trump and Mamdani, figures who had previously engaged in sharp public exchanges.
Responding to Tharoor’s post, Poonawalla tweeted, “Once again Shashi Tharoor reminds Congress to put India First not Parivar. But will Rahul Gandhi get the message? One more Fatwa loading against Shashi???” The BJP spokesperson’s statement suggests a perception that Tharoor’s views are at odds with the broader Congress ideology, particularly concerning Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. This instance echoes a pattern, as Tharoor previously praised veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani, a stance that the Congress leadership had to publicly disavow. The underlying message Tharoor was responding to involved the reconciliation between Trump and Mamdani after a period of intense political campaigning.