New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has criticized the split within the Trinamool Congress, describing it as a reflection of a growing trend of “politics without principles” in India.
In an interview with IANS, Tharoor suggested that the rebellion within the Trinamool Congress may have been influenced by inducements, incentives, or pressure from those in power.
“Frankly, I don’t think anyone has any serious doubt that either some inducements, incentives, or threats have been involved. Such influence can only come from the ruling party because it has the power,” he said.
Referring to the decision of 20 rebel Trinamool MPs to align with the NDA, Tharoor questioned the sudden political shift of leaders who had spent years criticizing the ruling alliance.
“These are the same MPs who have attacked the NDA for more than a decade. Their sudden decision to support the alliance suggests that our politics is increasingly becoming politics without principles, and that is unfortunate,” he remarked.
The split in the Trinamool Congress reportedly gained momentum after the party’s poor performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections, where it secured only 80 seats. Internal dissent first surfaced when 58 MLAs opposed the appointment of Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition, followed by resignations and defections in Parliament.
Despite his criticism, Tharoor emphasized that political differences should not undermine democratic values. He said political rivals should be viewed as adversaries rather than enemies and should work together in the broader interest of the country.
“You may believe your vision is better than that of your opponents, but politics should ultimately be about building a better India and creating a better society. That is the true purpose of public life,” he said.
