The BJP never misses a chance to strike the Congress where it hurts the most, and its latest manoeuvre is nothing short of a political coup. By appointing Kerala MP, Shashi Tharoor as the leader of India’s delegation to the United States, Brazil, Panama, Guyana and Colombia to expose Pakistan’s terror links and defend India’s decisive retaliation following the gruesome Pahalgam massacre of 26 tourists by Pakistan-backed terrorists, the Modi government has thrust the Congress into a political dilemma.

In a stunning display of strategic dexterity, the government has elevated Tharoor—an articulate, globally recognized diplomat—to a position of prominence, while the Congress has conspicuously side-lined him. Its official list of four MPs for the United Nations delegation—featuring Anand Sharma, a seasoned former Union Minister; Gaurav Gogoi, the party’s Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha; Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, Rajya Sabha MP; and Raja Brar, Lok Sabha MP—deliberately omits Tharoor, leaving a glaring void. Congress has accused BJP of playing politics even when such party level rivalries must be avoided.

Media Narratives: Tharoor-Vajpayee Comparisons Fuel Debate

Majority of the TV channels have launched an indefatigable campaign to equate the nomination of Shashi Tharoor by the Modi government in 2025 with Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s nomination by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994. However, such comparisons overlook fundamental differences in purpose, context, and political impact. Narasimha Rao's decision to nominate Vajpayee, then Leader of the Opposition, as the leader of India's delegation to the United Nations in 1994 was a diplomatic masterstroke aimed at presenting a united Indian front against Pakistan’s false propaganda on Kashmir. Vajpayee, a statesman with formidable oratory skills, forcefully countered Pakistan’s anti-India narrative, emphasizing India’s right over Jammu and Kashmir and exposing Pakistan’s support for terrorism.

Contrasting Contexts: Rao’s Unity vs. Modi’s Political Tactic

In contrast, the Modi government's decision to nominate Shashi Tharoor to lead India’s delegation to five nations to expose Pakistan’s terror links and justify India’s retaliatory strikes under "Operation Sindoor" has sparked controversy. Tharoor, a Congress MP,........

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