05 December 2025 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor once again distanced himself from his party’s aggressive parliamentary strategy, openly criticising frequent disruptions in the House, a stance that puts his differences with senior colleagues back in the spotlight.
Speaking on the ongoing logjam in Parliament, Tharoor said he has consistently believed that lawmakers are elected to engage in meaningful debate, not to create disorder.
“From the very beginning, I have held this view, and my party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, are fully aware of it. I may be the only one in the party saying this, but I firmly believe people have elected me to speak for them thoughtfully in Parliament, not to shout or disrupt proceedings,” he said.
His remarks come at a time when the Congress and other Opposition parties have repeatedly stalled parliamentary business during the Winter Session, demanding discussions on issues such as the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and the nationwide flight chaos.
The BJP has blamed the Opposition for the repeated adjournments, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning to avoid “drama” at the start of the session.
The Congress is expected to push back strongly against Tharoor’s comments, which many in the party view as an implicit endorsement of the government’s stand.
Tharoor has previously faced criticism from within the party for positions seen as out of sync with the Congress line, including occasional praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
His recent absence from two key party meetings also fuelled speculation about widening rifts, though he clarified that he had been in Kerala attending to his elderly mother.
Most recently, his favourable remarks on the Prime Minister’s address at the Ramnath Goenka Lecture drew sharp reactions from some Congress leaders, who questioned why he remained in the party if he found merit in BJP narratives.
A four-term MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor remains a prominent national figure, particularly admired by younger voters, and was once a contender for the Congress presidency, losing the internal contest to veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge.
Summary
Shashi Tharoor criticised the Opposition for causing repeated disruptions in Parliament, saying MPs are “not elected to create ruckus” but to engage in meaningful debate and represent public interests. He urged all parties to uphold parliamentary dignity and focus on constructive discussions.