Congress suggestion for all-party delegation had 4 names, not Shashi Tharoor. Grand Old Party’s rift out in open?

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh revealed on Thursday that Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had requested four names from the Congress on the morning of May 16. By noon the same day, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi submitted a list that did not include Shashi Tharoor.

Watch the post of Jairam Ramesh here:

Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke with the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The INC was asked to submit names of 4 MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India’s stance on terrorism from…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 17, 2025

The Congress list featured:

• Anand Sharma, former Cabinet Minister

• Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha

• Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, Rajya Sabha MP

• Raja Brar, Lok Sabha MP

ALSO READ: Shashi Tharoor, Kanimozhi among 7 MPs in all-party delegation over Operation Sindoor

Despite this, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs named Tharoor—the four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram—to head the delegation, which will also include Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda from BJP, Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD-U), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP – Sharad Pawar faction), and Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena – Shinde faction).“I am honoured by the invitation of the government of India to lead an all-party delegation to five key capitals, to present our nation’s point of view on recent events. When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting,” said Tharoor in a statement.

Congress Rift Widens

The selection of Tharoor has sparked internal friction within the Congress, particularly given his recent statements praising the government’s precision strikes during Operation Sindoor, launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.“It is his opinion. When Tharoor saab speaks, it is not the party’s opinion,” clarified Jairam Ramesh at a press briefing, distancing the Congress from Tharoor’s comments.

Tharoor’s remarks, which lauded the Modi government’s measured and targeted response against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, have drawn praise from the ruling BJP but raised eyebrows within his own party. According to a PTI report, several Congress insiders believe Tharoor may have crossed a “Lakshman Rekha” by consistently deviating from the official party narrative.“The Congress party’s choices to represent India at diplomatic meetings are not just intriguing—they are deeply questionable,” BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya posted on X.

Watch the post of Shashi Tharoor:

I am honoured by the invitation of the government of India to lead an all-party delegation to five key capitals, to present our nation’s point of view on recent events.

When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting.

Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/b4Qjd12cN9

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 17, 2025

Delegation Details

The seven-member delegation will begin a 10-day diplomatic outreach on May 23, visiting key global capitals including:

• Washington

• London

• Abu Dhabi

• Pretoria

• Tokyo

The mission’s core objective is to convey India’s “zero tolerance” stance on terrorism, particularly in light of recent cross-border attacks. Each delegation will reinforce India’s unified message against terrorism and highlight its strategic military posture.

Tharoor and the Congress High Command

Tharoor’s complex relationship with the Congress leadership is not new. From being dropped as spokesperson in 2014 for praising Prime Minister Modi, to contesting against Mallikarjun Kharge for the Congress presidency in 2022, his political journey has often run parallel to, but at odds with, the party high command.

In 2020, Tharoor was a key member of the G-23 reform group, pushing for structural changes within the Congress, many of whom have since left the party. Yet despite being a maverick, Tharoor continues to wield significant public and diplomatic appeal.

As this delegation embarks on its global mission, Tharoor’s leadership could enhance India’s soft power—while potentially deepening fault lines within the Congress Party.