In an intriguing twist in parliamentary decorum, senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor publicly endorsed the Modi government’s latest constitutional amendment bills creating an unusual breach with his party’s official position. The bills propose that Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and other ministers must step down or will be automatically removed if they are detained for 30 consecutive days on criminal charges punishable by a potential five-year jail term.

Tharoor called the proposals “reasonable,” arguing from a common-sense standpoint that individuals facing serious charges shouldn’t continue to hold high constitutional office. Speaking to ANI, he added, “I think that makes sense… anyone who does anything wrong should be liable to punishment and should not be holding a high constitutional office”. While Tharoor stressed the need for deeper review ideally by a parliamentary committee he expressed openness to the bill's underlying logic.

Unsurprisingly, Tharoor’s remarks starkly diverged from the broader Congress party narrative. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra labelled the bill “draconian,” warning it could be weaponized: “You can file any case, arrest a CM for 30 days, and he ceases to be a CM… it is absolutely anti-constitutional”. Similarly, leftist parties also strongly criticized these bills, described them as federal structures and erosion of democratic values and resolved to strongly oppose them.

Tharoor also spoke on other legislative issues, in which he advocated controlled and taxation instead of banning online gaming. They believe that this method will curb criminal activities as well as provide revenue for social welfare.

In essence, this stance of Tharoor strengthens the identity as his practical thinking leader which is ready to stand out of the party line even when the principles are willing to stand, even if their own party back.