Shashi Tharoor, a prominent Congress leader, has sparked controversy within his party by advocating for an end to "dynastic politics" and a shift towards "meritocracy." His comments have prompted strong reactions from fellow Congress members, including MP Pramod Tiwari, who defended the Nehru-Gandhi family's legacy. Tiwari stated, "Leadership always comes from merit. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the most capable Prime Minister of this country. Indira Gandhi proved herself by sacrificing her life. Rajiv Gandhi served this country by sacrificing his life." He challenged Tharoor to identify any other family in India that has shown similar dedication and sacrifice.

Another Congress leader, Rashid Alvi, supported Tiwari's stance, emphasizing that in a democracy, the public decides who can contest elections. He remarked, "You cannot impose a restriction that says you cannot contest elections because your father was an MP. This is happening in every field. What way will you find this?" Udit Raj, also from Congress, pointed out that dynastic influence is not limited to politics, noting that it exists in various sectors, such as medicine and business.

Tharoor's remarks came in an article where he highlighted that while the Nehru-Gandhi family is integral to Congress, dynastic succession is prevalent across all political parties in India. He argued that when political power is based on lineage rather than merit, the quality of governance declines. Tharoor acknowledged the historical significance of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty but cautioned that it has fostered the notion that political leadership is a birthright.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly seized on Tharoor's comments, describing them as a "very insightful piece" on the familial nature of Indian politics. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla remarked that Tharoor's statements were a direct critique of Rahul Gandhi and Tejaswi Yadav, both associated with political dynasties.

Tharoor's relationship with Congress leadership has been strained since he contested the party presidency against Mallikarjun Kharge. Tensions escalated when his name was omitted from a list of Congress leaders for a government outreach initiative. Despite this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi later invited Tharoor to lead a delegation to the United States and other countries in the Americas. Tharoor's public comments, which some interpreted as supportive of Modi, have further complicated his standing within the Congress party, especially following his recent remarks that challenge the party's leadership.