Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 31: As senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor continues to distance himself from the party's high command over key issues, his stature seems to be rising across party lines — including within the BJP. The latest endorsement has come from Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai, who drew a sharp contrast between Tharoor and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over their differing takes on Indo-US trade relations and tariffs imposed by former US President Donald Trump.

Taking to social media, Annamalai wrote, “I came across remarks by two Congress leaders on the same topic today. One spoke for India's interest, and the other spoke in a tone that would please his offshore masters.” He praised Tharoor's nuanced stance while slamming Rahul Gandhi’s claim that India’s economy is “dead”, accusing the Leader of Opposition of peddling a narrative that undermines India’s global standing.

In his response, Tharoor took a measured view, stating, “If we can’t compete in America, we may have to diversify our markets outside of America... That is the strength of India; we are not a totally export-dependent economy like China.” He added that India has ongoing trade negotiations with the EU and concluded deals with the UK, stressing that India is not bound to any one partner.

The growing admiration for Tharoor within BJP circles comes even as his equation with the Congress brass continues to strain. The rift, which started with the Kerala unit, deepened after Tharoor was not included in the Centre’s all-party delegations for international outreach during Operation Sindoor — despite his vocal support for the mission.

Though Congress allowed him to lead a team to the US, his exclusion from speaking during the special debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament raised eyebrows. Sources later claimed Tharoor had been offered the chance to speak but declined. Nevertheless, BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda took a dig at the Congress for allegedly sidelining its "noted orator", and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined in, remarking in Parliament about "some being stopped from speaking" and taking a veiled jab at internal Congress discontent.

With support growing from unexpected quarters, Tharoor’s positioning in national politics appears to be shifting — even as tensions simmer within his own party.