BJP Sees Rahul As 'Serious Threat', His Disqualification Caused ‘Surprising Wave Of Oppn Unity’: Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor stated that BJP might find it much harder to win a majority in the 2024 elections if most of the opposition parties come together and stop dividing each other’s vote

New Delhi: Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday welcomed the recent "wave of Opposition unity" that has emerged following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha due to his conviction in a 2019 defamation case.

In an interview with PTI, Tharoor stated that Congress will be the “de facto” fulcrum around which all opposition parties will converge but asserted that if he were in the party leadership, he would not "crow about it" and encourage one of the smaller outfits to play the role of convenor of an alliance to take on the BJP in the 2024 general election.

He said the BJP might find it much harder to win a majority in the 2024 elections if most of the opposition parties come together and stop dividing each other’s vote. "Many have begun to feel the truth of the adage 'united we stand, divided we fall'. If they don't back Rahul now, they could be picked off one by one themselves, by a 'vengeful' government."

On being asked if opposition parties will form an alliance with the Congress ahead of the 2024 general elections, PTI quoted Tharoor as saying, “Objectively we are the only opposition party with a national footprint. There are about 200 seats where the elections will witness a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP." 

All other Opposition parties are essentially strong in one state and have a presence in just one or two more, he said, adding that in the circumstances "we will de facto be the fulcrum around which the Opposition converges to offer a credible alternative."

Asked about Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's 'thank you Germany' tweet after that country took note of Gandhi's disqualification, Tharoor said he would have advised his senior party colleague not to say what he did.

"The international attention - and the negative press for India - should not surprise Mr (Narendra) Modi and his government. Doubts about the democratic credentials of this government have been growing for some years, as is evident from the global media," he said.

"Still, I would have advised my highly respected senior colleague and friend not to say what he did. It has always been an article of faith for the Congress party that we do not require or accept any foreign tutelage after 200 years of subjection to colonial rule," Tharoor stressed.