Tharoor's target Rahul and Tejashwi? BJP weaponising 'family business' article in Bihar

NEW DELHI: BJP is weaponising an article written by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for the Bihar elections. The BJP claims that Shashi Tharoor's article on the issues of nepotism and family rule in Indian politics is aimed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. BJP's political weapon is the article 'Indian Politics Are a Family Business', published in Project Syndicate on October 31.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonewala said in a post shared on X that Tharoor's article is very insightful. The BJP spokesperson said that Tharoor explains in the article how a family has towered over Indian politics for decades. He added that Tharoor has launched a direct attack on India’s Nepo kid Rahul & Chota nepo kid Tejaswi Yadav. "Wonder what repercussions will follow against Tharoor for speaking so candidly. Tharoor was already attacked for calling out Nepo kid Rahul Gandhi on Op Sindoor 'surrender narrative'” - Poonewala wrote.

"For decades, one family has towered over Indian politics. The influence of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty – including independent India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and current opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra – is bound up with the history of India’s struggle for freedom. But it has also cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright. This idea has penetrated Indian politics across every party, in every region, and at every level." Tharoor says in the article.

The BJP spokesperson also pointed out that he was surprised that Tharoor came forward to directly criticize nepotism and family rule. Tharoor says in the article that it is high time India traded dynasty for meritocracy. Tharoor has mentioned the parties in the India alliance, including DMK, RJD, SP and Trinamool Congress, by name. The article also mentions the problems faced by neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka due to dynastic rule. However, the Congress has not yet responded to the MP's article.