BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla Warns Shashi Tharoor For “Calling Out Nepo Kids” in Congress

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's op-ed critiquing dynastic politics as a "grave threat" to Indian democracy has ignited a fresh political storm, drawing both praise from BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla—who warned of potential "vengeance" from the Gandhi family—and sharp rebuttals from within his own party. Published on October 31 in Project Syndicate under the title "Indian Politics Are a Family Business," the piece argues that hereditary succession undermines governance by prioritizing lineage over merit, citing the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty's outsized influence alongside examples from the Samajwadi Party, DMK, Trinamool Congress, and National Conference. Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram and former party presidential contender, calls for reforms like term limits and mandatory internal elections to foster meritocracy, stating, "As long as Indian politics remain a family enterprise, the true promise of democracy—'government of the people, by the people, for the people'—cannot be fully realized."

Poonawalla, who defected from Congress to BJP in 2017 after branding the party's organizational polls a "sham," hailed the article as "very insightful" on X, dubbing Tharoor a "Khatron ke Khiladi" for daring to challenge the "Nawabs of Nepotism." Referencing his own ouster after criticizing Rahul Gandhi, Poonawalla posted, "Sir, when I called out Nepo Naamdar Rahul Gandhi in 2017—you know what happened to me. Sir praying for you… The first family is very vengeful," implying reprisals from the Congress high command. He extended the critique to allies like RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, accusing dynasties of turning politics into a "family business" that stifles talent and accountability. Other BJP voices, including CR Kesavan, amplified the narrative, labeling it a "scathing attack" on the Gandhis.

Within Congress, reactions ranged from stony silence to defensive broadsides, underscoring Tharoor's perennial outsider status despite his CWC membership. Senior leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera declined comment, while a party insider dismissed the need for a response, asking, "Why should the party take note of it or give a statement?" Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari countered fiercely, extolling the Nehru-Gandhi legacy: "Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the most capable prime minister... Indira Gandhi proved herself by sacrificing her life. Rajiv Gandhi served this country by sacrificing his life. So, if someone talks about the Gandhi family as a dynasty, then which other family in India had the sacrifice, dedication, and ability that this family possessed? Was it BJP?" Udit Raj broadened the defense, noting dynastic tendencies permeate bureaucracy, judiciary, business, and Bollywood, not just politics.

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Tharoor's essay revives his history of intra-party friction, from the 2022 "G-23" letter demanding reforms—many signatories of which have since exited—to his 2022 presidential bid against Mallikarjun Kharge and recent divergences on issues like Operation Sindoor, where his endorsement of the government's response irked the leadership. Appointed to lead an Indian delegation abroad post-Pahalgam terror attack despite Congress reservations, Tharoor faced barbs from colleagues during the trip. The article's timing, amid Bihar polls and NDA's anti-dynasty rhetoric, amplifies its sting, potentially straining Tharoor's ties further in a party where loyalty to the Gandhis remains sacrosanct.

This episode highlights the enduring fault lines in Indian politics, where dynasties control over 30% of parliamentary seats, per Association for Democratic Reforms data, often at the expense of fresh talent. Tharoor's call for electorate empowerment echoes global democratic concerns, but in India's polarized landscape, it risks being weaponized by rivals like BJP to portray Congress as feudal. As the row simmers, it underscores a broader quest for merit over inheritance, though entrenched family fiefdoms across spectra suggest reform remains elusive.

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