Shashi Tharoor Criticises Opposition for ‘Creating Ruckus’ in Parliament

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has once again taken a stance at odds with his party’s aggressive parliamentary strategy, criticising the frequent disruptions that have dominated the Winter Session.

His remarks have renewed attention on his long-running differences with senior Congress leaders. Commenting on the deadlock in Parliament, Tharoor said he has always believed MPs are elected to debate issues constructively, not to create disorder. “From the very beginning, I have held this view, and my party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, are aware of it. I may be the only one in the party saying this, but I firmly believe people elected me to speak for them thoughtfully in Parliament, not to shout or disrupt proceedings,” he said.

The Opposition, including the Congress, has been stalling business to press for discussions on matters such as the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and nationwide flight disruptions. The BJP has accused the Opposition of blocking Parliament, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier appeal to avoid “drama” during the session.

Tharoor’s latest comments are likely to spark unease within the Congress, where some see them as echoing the government’s line. The MP has previously faced pushback for views seen as divergent from the party’s official position, including occasional praise of Prime Minister Modi.

His absence from two recent Congress meetings also triggered speculation about internal rifts, though Tharoor clarified he was in Kerala attending to his elderly mother. More recently, his favourable response to the Prime Minister’s address at the Ramnath Goenka Lecture drew criticism from party colleagues questioning his stance.

A four-term MP from Thiruvananthapuram and a prominent national figure, Tharoor continues to command significant appeal—particularly among younger voters—and was the runner-up in the Congress presidential election, losing to Mallikarjun Kharge.