Overview
- Delivering the first Jyoti Komireddy Memorial Lecture in Hyderabad, Shashi Tharoor argued that leader worship over principles weakens democracy and outlined a vision of Indian-rooted liberalism he calls radical centrism.
- Tharoor said the Congress has grown more leftist in recent years as a tactical response to the BJP, contrasting this with a more centrist phase between 1991 and 2009.
- Reacting to Bihar results that put the NDA far ahead, he called the outcome seriously disappointing and urged a detailed review of messaging, organisation and tactics.
- He disclosed he was not invited to campaign in Bihar, saying those on the ground should lead the analysis of what went wrong.
- Veteran Congress leader M. M. Hassan publicly accused Tharoor of undermining the party leadership, as Tharoor also signalled no immediate plan to run again for AICC chief and backed term limits for office-bearers.