Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 28: The Congress party is once again grappling with internal tensions after senior leader Udit Raj publicly criticized fellow Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for remarks made during a diplomatic visit to Panama.

In a pointed post on X, Raj accused Tharoor of praising the Modi government’s cross-border military actions, suggesting that if it were up to him, he would recommend appointing Tharoor as BJP’s chief spokesperson or foreign minister. Raj slammed Tharoor for ignoring the strategic and military successes India achieved under previous Congress-led governments, including decisive actions during the 1965 and 1971 wars, notably the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Raj also reminded that the UPA government conducted multiple surgical strikes, which were not politicized as they are today. He accused Tharoor of undermining the party’s legacy and being disloyal to the Congress that shaped his political career.

The controversy intensified when Pawan Khera, Congress’s Media and Publicity Department Chairman and Working Committee member, reposted Raj’s critique, sparking speculation about factional divides within the party. Khera’s endorsement is seen by many as tacit approval of Raj’s public condemnation.

Tharoor, currently leading a multi-party delegation abroad following Operation Sindoor, faced backlash for comments perceived as supportive of the Modi government’s military decisiveness, prompting this intra-party dispute.

Analysts note Udit Raj’s identity as a Dalit leader may have been strategically leveraged to provide caste-based political cover, preempting criticism from Tharoor’s supporters and the BJP.

This episode highlights deeper ideological and strategic tensions within the Congress. Whether it escalates into an open conflict or is resolved behind the scenes remains uncertain.