Congress MP Shashi Tharoor
New Delhi: Speculation is rife in India’s political and media circles over the possibility of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor being named the next Vice-President of India, following the surprise resignation of incumbent VP Jagdeep Dhankhar.
According to Gulf News’ Business Editor Manoj Nair, the growing chatter about Tharoor’s potential elevation has been intensified by Dhankhar’s unexpected announcement late on July 21 that he is stepping down from office due to health concerns. As per protocol, a new Vice-President must be elected within 60 days.
This latest round of speculation is further fueled by murmurs of a possible rift between Tharoor and the Indian National Congress. The Kerala MP, who retained his Thiruvananthapuram seat by a slim margin in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, has increasingly distanced himself from the party line, especially in the wake of India’s international outreach on the ‘Operation Sindoor’ front.
“Tharoor has been one of the more vocal proponents of India’s stance on ‘Operation Sindoor’ during trips to the US and elsewhere,” writes Nair. “And that’s brought him visibly closer to the BJP government – and sharing quite the rapport with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
This closeness, however, has reportedly irked senior Congress leaders, especially within Kerala. Tharoor’s exclusion from an official Congress delegation to the US was interpreted by many as a public snub. The state unit has even considered distancing him from upcoming party events, further indicating a widening gulf.
While there has been no official confirmation, Gulf News reports that Tharoor’s name is being floated prominently among the potential candidates to replace Dhankhar. Importantly, if the BJP decides to back him, they and their allies possess the electoral numbers in Parliament to ensure his victory—regardless of Congress support.
Nair notes that Tharoor’s name had already been whispered in political circles as a possible “future” Vice-President even before Dhankhar’s resignation. “Now that future is likely to happen a lot sooner,” he adds.
If nominated and elected, Tharoor’s ascent to the second-highest constitutional post in India would mark a significant political turn in a career already marked by international acclaim, articulate diplomacy, and growing political contradictions.
The Congress MP’s next move remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: “The guessing game continues,” concludes Nair.
