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Dr Shashi Tharoor today offered ‘qualified criticism’ of Aam Aadmi party chief, Arvind Kejriwal, lauding his “statesmanship in constructively engaging with PM Modi’s Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan” before adding that he “needs to “move beyond theatrics and demonstrate earnestness of purpose”.
Dr Tharoor’s ‘nuanced stand’ on the AAP supremo has triggered speculation in political circles that he may defect to the fledgling anti-corruption party. However, the AAP rank and file is split on admitting the suave UN diplomat within its ranks, given Tharoor’s reputation of being more of a ladies’ man than a common man. Senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti noted that Tharoor neither looked, dressed nor cursed like an aam aadmi while Ashutosh aired misgivings about Tharoor’s communication skills.
Even Yogendra Yadav seemed upset, gently pointing out that Tharoor was a chick-magnet and that inducting him would cause much heartburn among AAP volunteers and leaders, for many of whom comporting with and charming members of the fairer sex is an ongoing challenge.
However, AAP supremo Kejriwal decided in favour of Tharoor, pointing out that one can’t be average in all respects. “Look at me, an aam aadmi without any aukaat, who still managed to crack IIT and the civils. Tharoor ji, I am sure, is very average in many fields, even if he is way above average in some others,” the civil society activist turned politician argued.
“As long as he does not take a nuanced stand on corruption as well, and calls an Ambani agent just that, I don’t see why he should not be allowed to don the AAP topi. In time, I’m sure Tharoor ji will imbibe the AAP ethos and become aam like the rest of us,” Kejriwal reasoned.
Tharoor may now be made the head of AAP’s aam aurat cell to help the fledgling party gain a foothold with this demographic. “The aam aadmi act doesn’t seem to impress members of the fairer sex. We are hoping Dr Tharoor corrects that,” Kejriwal said.