New Delhi, November 4 (UNI): Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor is once again in the headlines for penning an article on dynastic politics, in which he argues that dynastic politics is a “serious threat” to Indian democracy and the time has come for India to replace dynastic privilege with merit-based recognition.
Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress MP Pramod Tiwari has raised questions about Tharoor’s views expressed in the article.
While objecting to Tharoor’s piece, he said, “The leaders of the Nehru family—Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi—sacrificed their lives for the nation. Tell me, which other family in India has shown the same level of dedication and competence as the Nehru family?”
Tiwari further said, “Leadership always comes from merit. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the most capable Prime Minister of this country. Indira Gandhi proved it by giving her life. Rajiv Gandhi too sacrificed himself in the service of the nation. If someone calls the Gandhi family a ‘dynasty,’ then tell me—which other family has shown such sacrifice and devotion? Has the BJP?”
It is noteworthy that on Monday, Shashi Tharoor had written in an article that dynastic politics is not limited to the Congress Party, but exists in almost every political party. He stated that when political power is determined by lineage rather than competence, commitment, or public connection, the quality of governance suffers.
He also wrote that the influence of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra—is intertwined with India’s history of independence and democracy.
But at the same time, it has reinforced the notion that leadership can be a birthright, and this thinking has now spread to all parties and states.
