Shashi Tharoor Drops Hint? ‘Don’t Ask Permission to Fly’ Sparks Talk of Internal Congress Turmoil

In a fresh twist to the growing internal friction within the Congress party, senior leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has once again stirred the political pot. Just hours after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took a veiled dig at him for repeatedly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor shared a pointed quote on social media, reigniting buzz around his strained relationship with the party.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Tharoor quoted, "Don't ask permission to fly. The wings are yours, and the sky belongs to no one." The quote, widely viewed as symbolic, is being interpreted as a subtle message to his own party, underlining his independence and possible dissatisfaction with the leadership.

Earlier in the day, Kharge took a veiled swipe at Tharoor, remarking that the Thiruvananthapuram MP was included in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) because of his command over English. Responding to Tharoor's recent praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge reiterated that for the Congress, the nation comes before everything-unlike some who place Modi above all else.

"I don't know English, but he does. That's why he's in the CWC," Kharge said. "We've always stood firmly with the Indian Army. I've said it before, even in Gulbarga-nation first, party next. But for some, it's Modi first."

Tharoor has been facing questions from within the Congress for his praise of Prime Minister Modi's international diplomacy, especially following Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army's response to the Pahalgam terror attack. His comments, and more so his role in a government-chosen delegation that visited five countries to explain India's stance, raised eyebrows within the party.

Speaking to NDTV recently, Tharoor pushed back against speculation that he was cozying up to the BJP.

"It's not about joining anyone. It's about standing up for India, beyond party lines. Foreign policy is national policy. There's no such thing as 'BJP foreign policy' or 'Congress foreign policy'-only Indian foreign policy."

His inclusion in the diplomatic outreach effort, and his debriefing with the Prime Minister after returning, didn't go unnoticed. Some within the Congress called him a "super spokesperson" for a BJP-driven PR exercise. Tharoor, however, remained unfazed.

"We all stood behind India's national interest. That should count more than party banners," he said.

This isn't the first time Tharoor has made the Congress leadership uncomfortable. In 2021, he was part of the G-23, a group of senior leaders who openly questioned the leadership style of the Gandhis after a series of election defeats.

Though he's stayed with the party since and even contested the Congress presidential polls, his relationship with the high command has remained complex.

He recently met Rahul Gandhi, reportedly to smooth things over. But insiders say little came of the meeting.

"There are differences of opinion, but only with some in the leadership," Tharoor told. "I've been with the Congress for 16 years. I've been loyal to the party's values and that hasn't changed."

While Congress leaders have not officially responded to Tharoor's latest post, the timing and tone of his message have triggered fresh debates over his future role within the party.