Shashi Tharoor Explains Congress Party's Leftward Shift to Counter BJP's Divisive Politics

Shashi Tharoor recently remarked that the Congress party has evolved into a more Left-leaning political entity than it previously was.

During a Thursday event, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that his party has shifted further to the Left in recent years as part of its strategy to counter what he described as the "divisive politics" of the BJP.

When questioned whether the alliance between Congress and Left parties against BJP represented 'radical centrism' in action, Tharoor clarified that his lecture on 'Radical Centrism' addressed ideological convictions rather than practical politics, noting that certain ideological gaps still needed bridging.

"Tactical adjustments have increasingly been made. In fact, one consequence is that my party has become much more of a Left party than it used to be," Tharoor explained.

"Looking at the party under Dr. Manmohan Singh's leadership, you could argue it was more deliberately centrist in its approach, even adopting some policies from the previous BJP government," he continued at Thursday night's event.

The Congress leader reflected on how his party established several policies in the early 1990s under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao that were later continued when BJP gained power.

Tharoor suggested there existed a centrist phase between 1991 and 2009, which began shifting thereafter.

"In recent years as an opposition party, Congress has certainly become much more Leftist than in earlier periods. Whether this represents tactical adjustment or philosophical conviction remains to be seen," he observed.

Tharoor emphasized that his advocacy for radical centrism extends beyond immediate tactical adjustments at the political level.

On Thursday, he delivered the Jyoti Komireddi Memorial Lecture titled 'Radical Centrism: My vision for India'.

Asked about potentially running again for AICC president, Tharoor indicated he wouldn't contest unless circumstances significantly changed.

"My experiences contesting that election included elements I'm not prepared to discuss publicly, but they didn't encourage me to repeat the experiment," he revealed.

Nevertheless, Tharoor expressed appreciation that Congress maintains a process allowing such contests.

He stressed that inner-party democracy is crucial not just for Congress but for all political parties in India.

Tharoor also advocated for term limits for party officials, stating that no individual should hold party positions indefinitely.

Regarding the recent car explosion near Delhi's Red Fort, Tharoor declined to predict government actions but emphasized that terrorist attacks cannot go unpunished.

He noted the government's commitment to pursuing perpetrators and highlighted the importance of protecting citizens.

Responding to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's comments about bringing skilled overseas workers who train Americans before returning home, Tharoor said the implementation would be closely watched.

He added, "From India's perspective, we encourage our citizens to gain international experience and earn well, but we certainly want them returning to our country. We don't promote permanent emigration."

Tharoor supports Indians bringing their experience, expertise, and knowledge of advanced technologies back to contribute to national progress.

"If Americans want people to 'come work for a few years and return,' I won't oppose that. I'd love to see them return to work in India," he concluded.