Shashi Tharoor urges Centre-state cooperation: ‘Ideological purity won’t deliver’

The Congress leader said he often disagreed with the BJP-led Centre but respected its mandate.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, on Tuesday, called for political pragmatism over “ideological purity”, arguing that cooperation between governments, even those run by Opposition parties, is essential for effective governance.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP said rigid political absolutism was hurting development. “People are only interested in ideological purity. You can’t get things done that way,” he said in a clip shared on X. “If your state does not cooperate with the Centre, how will you get things done? To me, it’s a no-brainer.”

Tharoor was speaking at an Amrita News event in Dubai.

The Congress leader said he often disagreed with the BJP-led Centre but respected its mandate. “I disagree with the ruling party, but they are the ruling party. They have a mandate from the nation. I will work with them.”

🙏 https://t.co/Wj8ig1Efmn

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 25, 2025

He further defended engaging with the Centre even when schemes came with conditions. “I will see how to implement it within my convictions, but I will take the money because my people need it,” he said.

Citing a recent incident where Kerala allegedly rejected a central scheme, he warned the state could not afford to turn down funds. “Kerala is broke… Schools have leaking roofs and no money for desks or blackboards, yet we are being ideologically pure and refusing central money. That’s crazy. It’s taxpayers’ money ...our money.”

Notably, Tharoor's comments come days after he faced criticism within the Congress for describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ramnath Goenka Lecture as reflecting India’s “constructive impatience” for development. Leaders Supriya Shrinate and Sandeep Dikshit had dismissed his remarks, with Dikshit urging him to clarify his political stance.

Responding to the same, Tharoor said even a neutral post was interpreted as praise. “I didn’t say a single word of praise. This is the atmosphere in our country right now.”

Addressing a largely Kerala-origin audience, he said politics had become too polarised for meaningful governance. “We need to be willing to cooperate across ideologies. Today, politics demands everyone be a purist who refuses to see merit on the other side.”

Reiterating his stance, he said, “I disagree with the ruling party, but they have a mandate. If they bring a scheme that gives Kerala money, I will take it.”

Tharoor’s remarks come amid long-running tensions with the Congress leadership, dating back to his role in the G-23 group and his failed 2022 bid for the party presidency. He has repeatedly denied any plans to join the BJP, saying earlier, “It is not a sign of my leaping to join his party… It is a statement of national unity.”

“Despite disagreements,” he said in Dubai, “that kind of cooperation is essential.”