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A major political storm erupted on Monday after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s recent comments about political dynasties, claiming that his remarks were a direct attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders with family political legacies. Tharoor’s comments spark fresh political debate The controversy stems from Tharoor’s October 31 opinion piece on Project Syndicate, where he discussed how lineage-driven politics undermines governance and meritocracy. In the piece, Tharoor wrote that India’s long association with family-based politics — from the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to other regional parties — has reinforced the perception that political leadership can be inherited rather than earned. “The influence of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, including independent India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and current opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is bound up with the history of India’s struggle for freedom. But it has also cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright,” Tharoor wrote. He added that “when political power is determined by lineage, rather than ability, commitment, or grassroots engagement, the quality of governance suffers.” BJP’s sharp reaction Soon after the article surfaced, the BJP launched a scathing attack, alleging that Tharoor’s views were aimed at Rahul Gandhi and other dynastic leaders. BJP spokespersons described Tharoor’s remarks as “an honest admission from within the Congress,” with some leaders mockingly referring to Rahul Gandhi as India’s “nepo kid” and Tejashwi Yadav as “chhota nepo kid.” The ruling party’s social media handles amplified the excerpts from Tharoor’s piece, framing it as evidence of a widening rift within the Congress. Congress leaders rally around Gandhis While the Congress party’s official response is awaited, several senior leaders came to the defence of the Gandhi family and dismissed suggestions that Tharoor’s words targeted their leadership. Congress leader Udit Raj said that dynastic tendencies exist across professions in India, not just in politics. “A doctor’s son becomes a doctor, a businessman’s child continues in business, and politics is no exception. If a politician has a criminal background, it reflects the reality of our society. Election tickets are often distributed along caste and family lines,” he told ANI. Raj also cited several examples of dynastic politics beyond the Congress. “From Naidu to Pawar, DMK to Mamata, Mayawati to Amit Shah’s son — there are many such cases. The loss is that opportunities remain confined to families alone,” he added. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari defended the Gandhis, calling them leaders of merit and sacrifice. “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the most capable Prime Minister of this country. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for India. Which other family has shown such dedication?” he asked. Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi echoed similar sentiments, stating that democracy allows every individual to contest elections. “You cannot stop someone from entering politics because their father was an MP. The public decides who wins,” he said. Underlying tension within Congress The row has renewed speculation about internal tensions between Tharoor and the Congress high command. Party insiders recall that Tharoor’s name was included in the Operation Sindoor delegation despite not being nominated by the Congress. He was also criticised by party colleagues in the past for praising the government’s stance on the 2015 Uri strike, prompting Udit Raj to call him the BJP’s “super spokesperson.” For now, the Congress has refrained from taking an official stand on Tharoor’s comments, even as the BJP continues to use them to corner the opposition over the issue of dynastic politics.
