'Tougher Than Walking Through Minefields': Shashi Tharoor Recalls Entry Into Politics At Ideas Of India

Dr Shashi Tharoor, who also participated at ABP Network’s ‘Ideas of Summit’ on Friday, urged people to not give up on opposition because "the opposition may be your next government."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday opened up about his entry into Indian politics after working for the UN for more than two decades and leaving outside India after the age of 19.

Calling his decision to contest his first election "foolhardy", the Thiruvananthapuram MP said it was tougher than "walking through the minefields in Bosnia" and "refugee camps in Somalia."

Speaking on the second day of the third edition of ABP Network’s ‘Ideas of India Summit’, Tharoor said, "When I was asked by the Congress party if I would be willing to contest, I didn't hesitate and I said yes. In some ways, it was a foolhardy answer because I had really no idea of what I was getting into."

"It turned out to be the hardest thing that I have ever done. I had walked through the minefields in Bosnia and refugee camps in Somalia and I can tell you it was far tougher than anything like that," he added.

However, Tharoor won the seat for Congress which was held by the Communist Party for the previous two terms.

"I took the seat from the Communist Party which had held the elections for two terms. I was re-elected for more times. Now I have served fifteen years as the Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram," the Congress MP said. 

Dr Shashi Tharoor was speaking during the session: "My Idea of India: Notes from the Field" on Friday.

Tharoor, who also participated at ABP Network’s ‘Ideas of Summit’ on Friday, urged people to not give up on opposition because "the opposition may be your next governemnt."

The Congress MP also responded to a question on whether he would join the BJP anytime in the future. The Thiruvananthapuram MP replied in the negative highlighting concerns about the "communalisation of political" discourse in the country over the past decade.

"Precisely because we have seen, at least in the last ten years, a communalisation of politics in India that makes me deeply ashamed. When I was growing up in Mumbai, such behaviour was not even tolerated behind closed doors in someone's home. That's the kind of bigotry that has become acceptable nowadays," Tharoor said.