New Delhi, August 20, 2025 – Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed support for a proposed law that would mandate the resignation or removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or Ministers of states and Union Territories facing serious criminal charges, diverging from the stance of his party colleagues in the Congress. The bill, introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament, stipulates that those accused of grave offenses must resign or be sacked on the 31st day if they remain in jail for over 30 days.Key Points:Tharoor’s Stance: While admitting he is not fully aware of the law’s details, Tharoor stated, “Prima facie, it seems quite reasonable that if someone has done something wrong, they should be punished and should not be holding high constitutional or political office.” This pertains to the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, which aims to establish these rules.Mobile Message Triple Talaq: Kashmir High Court Rejects FIR Cancellation Plea; Talaq-e-Ahsan vs. Triple Talaq: What's the Difference?

Congress Opposition: Other Congress leaders, such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have called the bill “completely flawed,” labeling it anti-constitutional and anti-democratic. She argued, “Tomorrow, any Chief Minister could be put in jail for 30 days without punishment on any allegation and be barred from being Chief Minister.” KC Venugopal termed it a “diversionary tactic” to shift focus from electoral malpractices and Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar yatra.30 ದಿನ ಜೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ಅಧಿಕಾರದಿಂದ ತೆಗೆದು ಹಾಕುವ ಮಸೂದೆ ವಿಚಾರ: ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌ ನಾಯಕರ ವಿರೋಧ, ಆದರೆ ಶಶಿ ತರೂರ್‌ ಬೆಂಬಲ: ಇಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ

Bill Details: The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025 proposes that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or Ministers facing serious criminal charges must resign or be removed if they remain in custody for more than 30 days.

Party Rift: Tharoor’s statement highlights existing tensions within the Congress, especially after his earlier criticism for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam attack. Some Congress leaders, including Kerala’s K Muraleedharan, have urged that Tharoor not be invited to party programs, calling him “not one of us.”

Broader Context: Tharoor’s position deepens internal Congress rifts, particularly after he lauded Modi for Operation Sindoor and praised certain policies of the LDF government in Kerala. Tharoor has maintained that his “first loyalty is to the nation,” which has drawn criticism from within the party.