Poonawalla vs Jha: Is Shashi Tharoor Being Sidelined by Congress?

In this intense debate, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla and Political Analyst Sanjay Jha discuss the reported rift between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress leadership. Poonawalla claims, 'Congress, and particularly Rahul Gandhi, can't stand anybody who puts nation first,' citing Tharoor's praise for LK Advani and India's foreign policy as reasons for his alleged sidelining. He further suggests a 'board of peace' be formed to manage internal Congress factions. Sanjay Jha defends Tharoor as an 'intellectual heavyweight' and 'outstanding speaker,' though he admits Tharoor is a 'distinctive outlier' who might be a misfit in any political party. The discussion also touches upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gesture of welcoming Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, which Poonawalla frames as a tradition of cooperative federalism. Jha acknowledges the Congress faces challenges and must avoid complacency in Kerala despite Tharoor's electoral strength.