Shashi Tharoor on Trump’s return: ‘He is a very transactional leader… No surprises expected’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Congressman Shashi Tharoor has given his views on Donald Trump’s victory due to the 2024 US presidential election roll in. Citing expectations based on Trump’s previous presidency, he said: “It looks like he (Donald Trump) is coming back. I think the official statement is imminent.” Noting Trump’s “transactional” style and previous diplomatic interactions, Tharoor added, “The truth is, we already have four years of experience with Mr. Trump as president, so there shouldn’t be too many surprises.”
Tharoor, chairman of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, highlighted Trump’s past stance on trade, his supportive relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his firm approach to China. “Given our own problems with China, its tough stance is not bad for us,” Tharoor said. However, on Canada-India relations, Tharoor noted that Trump had not previously raised specific concerns, adding: “I don’t see Trump having much personal interest in that particular issue… this is all speculation.”

Indian National Congress congratulates Donald Trump on election victory
The Indian National Congress (INC) has congratulated President Donald Trump on his election victory and extended its best wishes for his continued leadership.
In a statement, party chairman Mallikarjun Kharge said India and the United States share a “robust comprehensive global strategic partnership” rooted in shared democratic values, common interests and extensive people-to-people connections. The INC emphasized the importance of these long-standing ties between the two nations and highlighted the potential for cooperation in the years to come.
“We look forward to working closely with the United States for global peace and prosperity,” Kharge wrote on X, signaling the Congress party’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and strategic ties with the US under Trump’s leadership.
Earlier, Tharoor characterized the election as “very close,” with results shifting as urban areas cast their votes. Speaking to ANI, he explained: “The way they count in America… starts with the less populated rural areas,” which tend to fall in Trump’s favor, while urban areas, mostly Democratic strongholds, could change the trend as they report. Referring to updates from the Associated Press, Tharoor noted: “The AP… had Trump by a very large lead… and now shows the Electoral College votes at 220-205. Very tight.”
Tharoor also recalled the challenges of the 2020 election, with Trump contesting the results in multiple states. “There may be challenges, as we saw in 2020… Trump was challenging in three to four states,” he noted, urging patience for the final results.
With predictions pointing to Trump’s potential return, the tight race has seen him win battleground states such as North Carolina and Georgia as Vice President Kamala Harris looks to make history as the first female US president.
On India’s strained relations with Canada over Khalistani extremism, Tharoor emphasized on diplomatic engagement. He suggested that the Indian government would include all parties in the discussions, stressing the importance of addressing issues that “transcend politics.” Along with Foreign Minister Vikram Misri, Tharoor attended a briefing on the India-Canada row, underscoring India’s continued concerns over extremism in Canada.