Congress parliamentarian Udit Raj on Wednesday reacted sharply to senior party member Shashi Tharoor's recent comments, calling for an explanation of his contribution to the party. Raj doubted Tharoor's contribution to Congress, highlighting the need to be accountable.
In a conversation with IANS, Raj straightaway questioned Tharoor by asking, "Shashi Tharoor, what are you doing for the party?"
Explainng more, he stated, "The Congress promoted him to the post of a minister, he is an MP too. The party has benefited him a lot. What did he do or give back to the party?"
Raj emphasized that though Congress stood by Tharoor in good times, he now must support the party in its bad times. "The party did a lot in the good times, now the party is facing bad times. He should consider how he should repay the party," he further added.
Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, has recently drawn scrutiny for his comments praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US and the Kerala government’s industrial progress under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. His remarks have intensified tensions within Congress, particularly with the Kerala unit.
His frustrations have reportedly grown since his unsuccessful bid for the Congress presidency, which exposed internal disagreements and criticism from party colleagues.
Tharoor recently met senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, reportedly inquiring about his role within the party and complaining of being marginalised.
The former UN diplomat is said to have vented his displeasure at not being invited to crucial party gatherings and parliamentary forums, adding fuel to his anger with the leadership.
While Tharoor has gone out of his way to shun confrontations, his tweets have been interpreted as a discreet expression of his discontent.
Raj's comments highlight the growing internal split in Congress, as the likes of Tharoor remain restless about their positions in the face of the party's continued woes in the wake of recent election losses.
