Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Urges To Swap Dynasty For Meritocracy
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said that it is high time India traded dynasty for meritocracy, stressing that political leadership should be determined by ability and vision rather than lineage. Speaking at a public event, Tharoor highlighted that dynastic politics continues to dominate both national and regional parties, weakening the foundations of Indian democracy.
Dynastic Politics Weakens Democracy
Tharoor pointed out that family-controlled political organizations limit opportunities for deserving candidates and discourage internal democracy. He emphasized that true representation should come from grassroots leaders who earn their positions through service and competence rather than inherited privilege.
Examples Across Indian Politics
Citing examples, he mentioned the dominance of political families such as the Patnaiks in Odisha, the Thackerays in Maharashtra, the Karunanidhi family in Tamil Nadu, and the Abdullahs in Jammu and Kashmir. He argued that this trend, seen across parties, reduces accountability and prevents fresh ideas from entering governance.
Call For Political Reform
Tharoor proposed introducing internal reforms in political parties, setting term limits for office bearers, and educating voters to choose leaders based on merit. His remarks also reignited the long-standing debate on dynastic politics, with the BJP terming it a veiled criticism of the Congress’s leadership structure.
