Shashi Tharoor, a prominent Indian politician, author, and former diplomat, is known for his eloquence and intellectual depth. He was born on March 9, 1956, in London, United Kingdom, to Lily and Chandran Tharoor, who hailed from the state of Kerala in India. Tharoor spent his formative years in India and completed his education at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Tharoor's career is as diverse as it is illustrious. He began his professional life at the United Nations, where he served for nearly three decades, rising to the position of Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. During his time at the UN, Tharoor earned a reputation as a skilled diplomat and a passionate advocate for international cooperation.
In 2009, Tharoor made a foray into Indian politics, joining the Indian National Congress party. He was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala. Tharoor has since been re-elected from the same constituency multiple times, earning a reputation as a diligent and articulate parliamentarian.
Tharoor is also known for his active presence on social media, particularly Twitter, where he enjoys a large following due to his insightful commentary and engaging writing style. He is a vocal advocate for liberal values, multiculturalism, and secularism, often engaging in debates on these topics both online and offline.
Overall, Shashi Tharoor's career is a testament to his intellect, passion, and commitment to public service. He continues to be a prominent voice in Indian politics and a respected figure on the global stage.
His official Twitter handle is @ShashiTharoor and the name of his official Facebook page is Shashi Tharoor. He is also active on Instagram, under the username @shashitharoor.
Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor analyzed the US midterm election results, noting the ruling party's defeat across both houses of Congress. While acknowledging significant Democratic gains, including mayoral victories of Indian-origin leaders in Los Angeles and New York, Tharoor cautioned against expecting major shifts in bilateral relations. 'Those in India who are expecting this to have some impact on our relationship with the US, I think are completely mistaken,' he remarked, explaining that the US presidency retains immense discretionary authority in foreign policy, trade, and sanctions. Addressing domestic political matters, Tharoor endorsed Rahul Gandhi's call for a parliamentary debate on recent controversies surrounding the Election Commission of India. He condemned administrative decisions under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding Form 6 and Form 7 revisions as unauthorized bureaucratic malfeasance. Tharoor also welcomed the reversal of the Agneepath recruitment scheme, noting that contractual service undermined military morale and institutional stability, reaffirming his longstanding support for the Indian Army.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has supported holding a parliamentary discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), pointing out that Parliament has not yet been prorogued following the monsoon session and can be reconvened. Tharoor's statement comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing a Loktantra Bachao Pad Yatra rally in Karnal, challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to seek a special session of Parliament to discuss the SIR exercise. Tharoor noted that Rahul Gandhi's open challenge to debate the government on the issue stands, and the floor of Parliament remains open since the session was not prorogued. The report highlights political exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition, discussing procedural options regarding whether the monsoon session could be reconvened or whether the debate will be taken up during the upcoming winter session alongside pending legislative matters such as delimitation and the FCRA.
In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai, Congress MP and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor evaluated the United States midterm election results, calling the verdict 'an extraordinary repudiation of President Trump and the party that has been remade in his name.' Tharoor noted that while the Democratic resurgence marks historic wins across battlegrounds, US foreign policy leeway means minimal immediate disruption to bilateral India-US engagements or ongoing trade negotiations. However, he cautioned that issues surrounding potential Graham Act sanctions, competitive trade terms, and Washington's ties with Pakistan remain key factors. Connecting the political outcome to India, Tharoor argued that domestic anti-incumbency is driven by inflation, rising living costs, graduate unemployment, and voter roll controversies, urging the Indian opposition to question whether citizens are better off under current governance.
This special broadcast of The News Today, anchored by Rajdeep Sardesai, examines the United States midterm election results after Democrats secured majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Speaking from an open jeep at an INDIA bloc rally, Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor addressed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots amid a padayatra organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Tharoor expressed deep sorrow over the violence, stating, "None of us have anything but regrets for the tragic loss of lives in 1984, but this is 2026. We want to think about the future of India." While condemning the historical tragedy, the Congress lawmaker stressed that the country must now focus forward on its future.
Visuals from the INDIA bloc rally show extensive mobilization as opposition leaders march towards Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, and Left party representatives, traveled in an open vehicle to display political unity. Concurrently, Indian Youth Congress workers from Karnataka displayed extensive voter lists stretching over a kilometer along the march route near Minto Bridge. Workers alleged that live voters, particularly from minority, OBC, and SC/ST communities, were wrongly deleted during the special intensive revision exercise. Additional buses carried senior Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Ashok Gehlot, Kumari Selja, Sachin Pilot, and Shashi Tharoor as party cadre gathered from various states. The opposition alliance sought to project a cohesive front ahead of key electoral challenges amid ongoing seat-sharing discussions.
A political storm has erupted within the Congress Party over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and allegations of vote tampering. While senior leadership including Rahul Gandhi has intensified attacks against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling for protest marches and planning a symbolic representative impeachment session at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi publicly defended the electoral revision. Jarkiholi stated that the roll revision was conducted properly in Karnataka, attributing deletions to deaths, relocations, and duplicate entries, and urged other states to adopt the same process. Reports highlighted that Congress leaders in Kerala, including Ramesh Chennithala, previously noted that the voter roll clean-up helped the party by removing bogus entries. The Bharatiya Janata Party hit back at the opposition, with leaders accusing the India Bloc of spreading anarchy and questioning the credibility of their claims after winning elections in several states. The contrasting stances within the opposition have escalated debate over its campaign against the Election Commission.
A major political controversy has erupted following Jawaharlal Nehru University's decision to dismiss a professor and Congress Member of Parliament over allegations of sexual harassment and sex-for-marks. While an internal inquiry panel substantiated complaints involving female students, the MP has denied the charges, calling the proceedings a political witch-hunt and harassment. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor backed him, terming the university's move unjust. Meanwhile, a delegation of 15 BJP women Members of Parliament, led by D. Purandeswari, submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu demanding a referral to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, suspension pending inquiry, protection for the complainants, and swift legal action while questioning the silence of Congress leadership.
A major controversy has erupted following sexual harassment allegations against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam leading to his dismissal from Jawaharlal Nehru University. In an interview with India Today, Akoijam denied the charges, including allegations of sex for marks, and challenged the inquiry panel while asserting that statutory bodies had been turned into a khap panchayat. He stated that he would quit Parliament if the charges were proven true. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor defended him, calling the action unjust and politically driven. Meanwhile, 15 BJP women MPs, led by D. Purandeswari, submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu seeking referral to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, Akoijam's suspension pending inquiry, protection and privacy for the complainant students, and swift legal action. The BJP has also questioned the silence of the Congress leadership on the issue.
In an exclusive conversation, senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Dr. Shashi Tharoor discusses the INDIA bloc's petition in the Supreme Court and ongoing protests against the Election Commission of India over the Special Summary Revision (SIR) process. Demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Tharoor asserts that a tangible victory would mean helping restore the voting rights of Indian citizens. He criticises the widespread deletion of voters from electoral rolls, citing instances in West Bengal, Bihar, and Goa, and points out software issues preventing Electoral Registration Officers from restoring wrongly deleted names. Calling the scale of voter deletions preposterous and a threat to democratic integrity, Tharoor questions the rationale behind burdening voters to prove their eligibility. Rejecting claims that the opposition complains only after electoral losses, he highlights vigilance across parties in states like Kerala and maintains that the Election Commission has no business depriving citizens of their fundamental constitutional rights.
Speaking in an interview, senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Dr Shashi Tharoor outlined the opposition's demands regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the functioning of the Election Commission of India. Dr Tharoor asserted that a "tangible victory would be if we can actually help restore the voting rights of Indian citizens", alleging widespread voter deletions and irregularities. He called for a suspension of the SIR process, a review of the electoral roll software, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, warning that the opposition would pursue impeachment if he does not step down. Furthermore, Dr Tharoor criticized the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, describing it as an attempt by the authorities to move dissent away from public view. Highlighting demonstrations across central Delhi, he emphasized that restoring electoral integrity remains essential for democracy, reiterating that a level playing field is necessary for genuinely free and fair elections.
A large-scale protest in Delhi brought together political leaders, students, and citizens demonstrating in defence of democratic rights. Senior Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh, spoke about public participation on the streets, describing the gathering as spontaneous and heartening. Shashi Tharoor noted that the action would move to the Supreme Court. Citizens, activists, and students from various states shared their motivations for joining the demonstrations, highlighting concerns over democratic freedoms, voting rights, and alleged crackdowns on student protests. Protesters expressed solidarity with the movement despite police deployment, barricades, and water cannons.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and other senior leaders, entered the Supreme Court of India following high-voltage protests on the streets of the national capital. A delegation was granted permission to enter the top court premises after an earlier protest in New Delhi. While a petition on the issue had already been filed by eleven INDIA bloc leaders naming the Election Commission as respondent, speculation arose whether the delegation was attempting to meet the Chief Justice of India. However, procedural protocols mandate prior appointments for meetings with the Chief Justice, who had previously declined an unscheduled meeting and directed that grievances be filed formally through a petition. Legal observers and analysts noted that the presence of the leaders inside the top court's corridors appears largely symbolic or aimed at signing legal formalities before the registrar ahead of the court hearing scheduled for the following day.
A political controversy has erupted following remarks by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy comparing Bhagwan Ram and Bhagwan Shiv. Speaking in New Delhi, the Chief Minister drew contrasts between North and South India, claiming that people in the south are devotees of Shiva while those in the north worship Lord Ram. He further asserted that Shiva is the god of the poor, whereas Ram is the god of the rich, and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of appropriating Lord Ram while failing to chant Har Har Mahadev. The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly rejected the claims, accusing him of employing divide-and-rule tactics and creating geographic and political divides among Hindus. Leaders pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent visits to prominent Shiva shrines, including Kashi Vishwanath, Mahakal in Ujjain, Somnath, Kedarnath, and Pashupatinath, along with major corridor redevelopments, arguing that both deities are revered across India.
Delhi witnessed major political developments as Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma was filmed slapping AAP volunteer Sahib Singh during an inspection in Tilak Nagar, prompting protests by Aam Aadmi Party workers outside Delhi Police headquarters.
A political standoff unfolded in Delhi following allegations that PWD Minister Parvesh Verma slapped an Aam Aadmi Party worker during a road inspection. Delhi Police registered a non-cognisable report against Verma and filed two FIRs against AAP MLA Jarnail Singh for obstructing public duty, leading to the detention of AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Singh during a protest march. Concurrently, the Congress Working Committee demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alongside high-level government resignations over alleged electoral roll irregularities and voter disenfranchisement, while Rahul Gandhi highlighted voter deletions at Delhi's Yamuna Bank. In Maharashtra, the Chief Electoral Officer requested software modifications regarding Electoral Registration Officer authority, and the Food and Drug Administration suspended the licence of the historic Kyani and Co. cafe due to hygiene violations. In business news, Noel Tata-led Tata Trusts submitted a restructuring proposal to merge Tata Electronics and Tata Consulting Engineers into Tata Sons to satisfy Reserve Bank of India regulatory norms.
A party meeting saw high-level friction resurface after the party president questioned whether an MP would physically attend an event suggested for Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary or remain visible only on social media platforms. The incident follows previous remarks targeting leaders who write newspaper articles and appear on television rather than taking up party issues. Discussion highlighted ongoing differences over divergent public stances, including past praise for the Prime Minister's foreign policy, which has caused discomfort within the leadership.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor discusses the Congress party's decisive victory in Kerala and the broader national political landscape.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, senior parliamentarian and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor discussed the US-Iran ceasefire, Pakistan's role in mediation and much more.
Floccinaucinihilipilification — a 29-letter word meaning “something worthless” — has now entered an Indian courtroom.
