Shashi Tharoor’s viral selfie with BJP leader Piyush Goyal reignites Congress rift talk

Dubai: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's latest social media post has reignited speculation about his future with the party. On Tuesday morning, Tharoor shared a photograph on X, featuring himself alongside Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and British Secretary of State for Trade Jonathan Reynolds. The trio had just concluded discussions on the long-pending India-UK trade deal.

The post carried a diplomatic tone, with Tharoor welcoming the revival of stalled free trade agreement negotiations. "Good to exchange words with Jonathan Reynolds, Britain's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in the company of his Indian counterpart, Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal. The long-stalled FTA negotiations have been revived, which is most welcome," he wrote.

However, this post comes at a time when Tharoor's ties with the Congress appear to be under strain. The unease began after he praised the policies of Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, led by the CPM. Given that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is the primary opposition in the state, his remarks did not sit well with party loyalists.

Congress mouthpiece Veekshanam Daily took sharp aim at Tharoor, arguing that his words undermined the party's criticism of the LDF government. The publication went so far as to call his stance "suicidal" at a time when Congress was striving to highlight the government's failures.

Tharoor later clarified that his intent was not to praise the CPM but to acknowledge Kerala’s strides in the startup sector. However, this was not the only instance where his statements raised eyebrows. He also faced heat for his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly after former US President Donald Trump described Modi as a "tough negotiator." Tharoor had responded, "To hear a man like Donald Trump, whose Defence Secretary called him 'the greatest negotiator in the world,' say the Indian Prime Minister is even better... that’s something Mr. Modi can put in the bank."

Defending himself, Tharoor maintained that his remarks were made in India's national interest rather than the party’s. But the controversy had already taken root.

According to NDTV, when questioned by reporters on Sunday about his strained ties with the Congress, Tharoor deflected by referencing the ongoing India-Pakistan cricket match. Then, on Tuesday, when pressed further, he responded assertively, saying, “If the party wants me, I will be there. If not, I have my own things to do. You should not think I don’t have options…”