Is the Congress with the death wish or is Shashi Tharoor suicidal?

Tharoor’s 'Boss' Rahul Gandhi is behaving unapproachable, refusing to even give Tharoor the time of the day. Not that Tharoor doesn't have a watch around his wrist or a timepiece on the mantel.

Does Shashi Tharoor have a dog? There is no better friend. A dog can calm frayed nerves. And somebody with Rahul Gandhi for a 'Boss' needs a friend. Rahul Gandhi can drive the calmest politician to distraction.

Tharoor's problem is, the Congress has become a headache. The man who is a dictionary can't find the words to reason with the Congress. Who would have thought Tharoor will be out of favour with the Gandhi family? The same Tharoor for whom the doors of 10 Janpath were never barred.

Sonia Gandhi made Tharoor a minister in the Manmohan Singh government. People alleged that for no reason at all, Shashi Tharoor commanded respect and a certain awe in the grand old party. But the awe didn't last and Tharoor was soon consigned to the cattle-class.

Something was missing: For Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor was just another Congress leader. No different from the fellow who stood to attention when Rahul’s shadow passed by rather darkly. Tharoor lived in his own shadow. Thrived in the belief that he was more than what he was.

Tharoor even dreamt of becoming Congress President. The Gandhi Parivar had its own man for the job. And Shashi Tharoor was living dangerously, unaware of the “trepidation” he created. He was coming in the way of communication lines with the Gandhi family?

Tharoor, like most Malayalis on the planet, lived for the moment and didn't pause for the moment to sink in — Tharoor's dilemma! Today, Shashi Tharoor is stuck somewhere in the middle rungs of the Congress. The feeling of neither here nor there is eating into the most effusive of politicians ever to take a hit.

All because Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi are refusing him an audience and they're not making a big secret about it. Doesn't the Congress need Shashi Tharoor's services any longer? Tharoor's candid mouth appears to have done him in!

Also his admiration for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's policies. Shashi Tharoor is waist-deep in the grave he has dug for himself in the Congress! Tharoor has burned his bridges with the Congress’ first family with his wholesome praise for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kerala’s growth under Left rule.

Tharoor also cannot stop eulogizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He says Modi and Trump make a fabulous team and Pinarayi's policies have worked wonders. No wonder Tharoor isn't welcome in the Congress and Tharoor has got a whiff of it.

"If the party wants me then I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do. You should not think that I don't have any option to spend time. I have options. I have my books, speeches, invitations from across the world for talks," he said, adding that the Congress party's appeal in Kerala has to "expand or sit in the opposition for the third straight time."

The bravado is, however, only skin-deep. The irritation is showing in dollops. Accosted by a reporter, Tharoor shot back, "Go watch India vs. Pak." Reporter wandered away. When will the media desert the man?

Tharoor is convinced the Congress is sliding into irrelevance and has the support of only its committed voter-base. There is a sadness to Tharoor's loneliness and irrelevance. This is the man who used to say he had come back to "this country" to serve it. "I was doing well in the US and earning a lot of money." Shashi Tharoor has written his epitaph, now he's asking for a tombstone! (IPA Service)