Shashi Tharoor’s political journey in India is a study in contrasts—a blend of intellectual brilliance, global stature, and the gritty realities of navigating the labyrinthine world of Indian politics. As a former United Nations diplomat, prolific author, and charismatic orator, Tharoor entered Indian politics in 2009 with a resume that sparkled with international acclaim.
Yet, his transition from the polished corridors of global diplomacy to the chaotic, faction-ridden arena of Indian democracy has been anything but smooth. His recent selection to lead an all-party delegation to five key global capitals to articulate India’s stance on Operation Sindoor—a military operation launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—marks a pivotal moment in his career.
It underscores his unique ability to bridge India’s domestic political divides with its global ambitions, even as it highlights the complexities of his position within the Congress party and the broader Indian political landscape.
Tharoor’s entry into Indian politics was audacious. After a distinguished career at the UN, where he served as Under-Secretary-General and came close to becoming Secretary-General in 2006, he returned to India at the invitation of the Congress party.
His debut as a Lok Sabha candidate from Thiruvananthapuram in 2009 was a gamble—could a cosmopolitan intellectual, often perceived as an outsider, connect with the grassroots? Tharoor defied skeptics, winning the seat with a commanding margin.
His victory was a testament to his charisma and ability to resonate with voters, particularly the youth, who saw in him a modern, articulate face of Indian politics. His fluency in English, Malayalam, and Hindi, coupled with his social media savviness, made him a rarity in a political landscape dominated by dynasts and regional satraps.
Yet, Tharoor’s early years in politics were marred by controversy. Appointed Minister of State for External Affairs in 2009, he was seen as a natural fit, given his diplomatic pedigree. However, his tenure was short-lived. In 2010, he resigned amid allegations of impropriety in the Indian Premier League’s Kochi Tuskers franchise, a scandal that dented his image as a squeaky-clean globalist.
The episode exposed his vulnerability to India’s cutthroat political culture, where even minor missteps can be weaponized. Despite the setback, Tharoor bounced back, retaining his Thiruvananthapuram seat in 2014 and 2019, each time navigating the BJP’s rising tide in a state traditionally dominated by the Left and Congress-led coalitions.
Tharoor’s political journey is defined by his ability to straddle multiple worlds. Within the Congress, he has been both an asset and an enigma. His erudition and global network make him a go-to figure for articulating India’s foreign policy, as evidenced by his chairmanship of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs.
Yet, his outspokenness has often put him at odds with the party’s high command. In 2022, his bid for the Congress presidency against Mallikarjun Kharge was a bold but doomed attempt to challenge the Gandhi family’s grip on the party. His defeat, while expected, underscored his outsider status within the Congress’s insular hierarchy. Posts on X from May 2025 reflect this sentiment, with users noting that Tharoor’s “prime years” have been underutilized in an opposition party that undervalues his intellect.
Tharoor’s remarks on Operation Sindoor, a precision strike against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that killed over 100 terrorists, further illustrate this tension. His public support for the operation, coupled with his defense of the government’s messaging, drew ire from some Congress leaders who accused him of crossing a “Lakshman Rekha” by aligning too closely with the BJP’s narrative.
The Congress, wary of the BJP’s attempts to extract political mileage from the operation, has criticized the government’s selective engagement with opposition leaders. Tharoor, however, clarified that his stance was that of an Indian citizen, not a party loyalist, emphasizing national interest over partisan politics. His selection to lead a delegation to key capitals, including the United States, reflects the government’s recognition of his diplomatic heft, even as it stirs debate within his own party.
Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, has galvanized India’s diplomatic offensive against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Tharoor’s role in this mission is significant. As one of seven MPs leading all-party delegations to brief global leaders, he is tasked with presenting India’s evidence of Pakistan’s complicity and reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.
His selection, alongside MPs like Ravi Shankar Prasad, Supriya Sule, and Kanimozhi, signals a rare moment of cross-party unity, with the government carefully choosing articulate voices to project a cohesive national stance. Tharoor’s own words on X capture his commitment: “When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting. Jai Hind!”.
This moment could redefine Tharoor’s political legacy. His ability to navigate international forums, honed during his UN years, makes him uniquely suited to this task. His delegation’s visits to UN Security Council members and other key partners aim to reshape the global narrative on India’s counterterrorism efforts. Yet, the domestic political context complicates his role.
The Congress has accused the BJP of politicizing Operation Sindoor, organizing “Jai Hind” rallies to counter the BJP’s “Tiranga” marches. Tharoor’s participation in a government-led initiative, while a nod to his stature, risks further alienating him from his party’s base, especially in Kerala, where he is eyeing a larger role as the 2026 assembly elections loom.
Tharoor’s political journey reflects the challenges of being a global intellectual in a hyper-local political arena. His broad appeal, as noted in analyses of his Kerala strategy, stems from his ability to court diverse constituencies, including the Indian Union Muslim League, while maintaining a nationalist stance.
However, his flirtations with the BJP, though speculative, have fueled perceptions of ideological flexibility. Critics argue that his “constructive criticism” approach, advocated at the Congress’s Ahmedabad session, dilutes the opposition’s edge, while supporters see it as a pragmatic bid to revive the party’s relevance.
As Tharoor embarks on this diplomatic mission, his journey encapsulates India’s evolving political ethos. He represents a nation striving to assert its global voice while grappling with internal divisions. His ability to rise above partisan rancor, as seen in his Operation Sindoor stance, positions him as a bridge between India’s past and its aspirations.
Yet, his future in the Congress—and Indian politics—hinges on whether he can translate his global stature into domestic influence. For now, Tharoor remains a paradox: a man whose eloquence and intellect command respect, but whose ambitions are constrained by the very system he seeks to reform. As he carries India’s message to the world, he may well be scripting the next chapter of his own remarkable odyssey.