‘Nation Comes First’: Shashi Tharoor Amid Buzz of Rift with Congress

Amid speculation about tensions with the Congress leadership, senior party leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday emphasised that national interest must take precedence over party lines, asserting that political parties should cooperate during critical times to safeguard the country.

Speaking at an event in Kochi on ‘Peace, Harmony and National Development’, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that while parties have every right to disagree on approaches, their primary objective should be building a better India. “Which is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better,” Tharoor told the audience.

Tharoor’s comments come amid criticism from within his party for publicly supporting the Modi-led government over Operation Sindoor and India’s defence actions. Addressing this criticism, Tharoor said, “A lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I have taken, supporting our armed forces and our government. But I will stand my ground because I believe this is the right thing for the country.”

Responding to a student’s question on his relationship with the Congress leadership, Tharoor acknowledged that parties often view cross-party cooperation as disloyalty, complicating efforts to put the nation first during sensitive times. “Sometimes the parties feel that is disloyal to them. That becomes a big problem,” he said.

Tharoor added that while politics is inherently competitive, it should not prevent collaboration when the nation is at risk. “Inclusive development has been my theme throughout my 16 years in politics, and I believe in inclusiveness and in development. I also believe in national security and national interest,” he stated.

Speaking to reporters later, Tharoor reiterated that “nation first” has been his guiding principle throughout his public life. “I came back to India only to serve the nation in whatever way I can, through and outside politics,” he said.

The Congress leader also addressed recent speculation about internal party tensions following his appointment to lead an all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor, noting that he generally avoids political discussions in public but felt the student’s question warranted a response.

Quoting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Tharoor said, “Who lives if India dies?” urging political actors to set aside differences during moments of national importance.

Tharoor recently faced criticism from within Congress for an article in which he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “energy” and “dynamism” in foreign policy, an article that was later shared by the Prime Minister’s Office, further fuelling speculation about his ties with the Congress leadership.