New Delhi, Nov 4: After the controversial ‘dynastic politics’ remarks by Shashi Tharoor made headlines, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack against the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
It is worth noting that Congress MP from Kerela’s Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor had earlier criticized the “dynastic politics” in India and termed it as a "grave threat" to Indian democracy. He had further asserted that it is high time India traded "dynasty for meritocracy".
With only two days remaining before the Bihar assembly elections, Tharoor remarked that from India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and current leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Indian politics has reinforced the notion that leadership can be considered a "birthright."
Tharoor expressed his views in an article titled 'Indian Politics Are a Family Business' on Project Syndicate portal.
It is now being seen as a swipe at the Congress high command and its INDIA bloc allies like Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) and Shiv Sena (UBT) though he also mentioned about Chirag Paswan succeeding Ram Vilas Paswan as the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), who is an ally of BJP-led NDA.
BJP’s Jibe
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took a jibe at the Congress and the RJD, stating that Tharoor wrote the article based on his own ‘experience.’
Pradhan, welcoming Tharoor’s statement, stated that his remarks will obviously hurt the Congress party and the RJD because their politics are limited to a family and they cannot think outside that.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla stated that Tharoor’s article effectively highlights how the Gandhi family has turned Indian politics into a “family business.”
Speaking to media, he said the piece insightfully explains how the Gandhi-Vadra dynasty has reinforced the notion that political power can be inherited. Poonawalla added that the article may unsettle leaders like RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, and while Tharoor deserves praise, he will also face criticism and insults from Kerala Congress and other political figures.
Congress’ Response
The Congress party asserted that dynastic politics is present across all parties while praising the Nehru-Gandhi family’s leadership. Congress leader Udit Raj noted that dynastic influence spans politics, business, the judiciary, and the film industry, limiting opportunities to a few families.
“A dynastic approach exists in nearly every sector in India—a doctor’s child becomes a doctor, a businessman’s child continues the business, and politics is no different. Politicians with criminal backgrounds reflect broader societal realities, and election tickets are often allotted based on caste and family,” Raj told media.
He added, “From Naidu to Pawar, DMK to Mamata, Mayawati to Amit Shah’s son, there are countless examples. The main issue is that opportunities remain restricted to certain families. Dynastic influence extends beyond politics to the bureaucracy, judiciary, and even the film industry.”
