Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has taken a veiled but pointed swipe at senior party leader Shashi Tharoor over his recent article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Operation Sindoor outreach. Responding to media queries, Kharge remarked, “I can’t read English well. His language is very good, that’s why we have made him a Congress Working Committee member,” before adding, "It’s always 'Country first, party later' for Congress, but for some, it’s 'Modi first, country later'."

The comments, layered with sarcasm and political undertone, have stirred conversations within the Congress and beyond. Tharoor’s piece, seen as unusually generous toward the Prime Minister’s initiative, appears to have ruffled feathers at the top, suggesting a disconnect within the party over how to position itself in the current political landscape.

While no direct confrontation has followed, Kharge's remarks reflect deeper ideological and strategic tensions within the Congress as it navigates opposition politics under Modi’s enduring popularity.

The message? Internal unity is under as much scrutiny as external opposition.