A political controversy broke out after the Congress distanced itself from party MP Shashi Tharoor’s birthday message and praise for veteran BJP leader L. K. Advani. BJP leaders Shehzad Poonawalla and Rajeev Chandrasekhar hit out at the Congress, accusing it of hypocrisy and intolerance, and claiming the party only respects members of the Gandhi family. Responding to the backlash, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said Tharoor’s comments were made in a personal capacity and that the party “outrightly dissociates” itself from them. The row has reignited discussions on political civility and deepening ideological divides between the Congress and the BJP ahead of key electoral battles.