Congress Divided Over BRICS: Chidambaram Questions Benefits, Tharoor Calls It a Major Diplomatic Strength for India

New Delhi: The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, bringing together several prominent world leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already arrived in India, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to reach the country on September 12.

Ahead of the high-profile international gathering, differences of opinion have emerged within the Congress over the significance of BRICS and the benefits India can derive from the grouping.

Senior Congress leader *P. Chidambaram* has questioned the concrete outcomes India has received from recent BRICS summits. On the other hand, senior party leader *Shashi Tharoor* has strongly highlighted the diplomatic importance of BRICS and India’s role as host.

The contrasting statements have triggered a political debate over how India should assess the importance of the grouping.

Tharoor Highlights BRICS as India’s Diplomatic Strength

Shashi Tharoor has described BRICS as an important platform for the Global South and highlighted India’s ability to bring major countries together.

According to Tharoor, the Global South consists of more than 100 countries, while the BRICS platform brings together 11 major countries representing a wide range of views, interests and circumstances.

He also highlighted the economic and demographic weight of the grouping, saying that the 11 BRICS countries represent a large share of the world’s population and around 41 percent of global GDP.

Tharoor argued that hosting an event of such international importance should not be considered a minor achievement. He said the summit provides India with an opportunity to demonstrate its diplomatic reach and its ability to engage with countries representing different political and economic interests.

Presence of Top Leaders Seen as Significant

Tharoor also highlighted the participation of presidents and heads of government from several countries.

According to him, the significance of the summit goes beyond the formal BRICS membership, as observer countries are also expected to participate at senior political levels.

Bringing leaders from such a wide range of countries together, he argued, demonstrates India’s diplomatic ability to create a platform for dialogue.

The presence of several high-level leaders in New Delhi is therefore being viewed by Tharoor as an important diplomatic opportunity for India.

Chidambaram Questions Concrete Outcomes

P. Chidambaram, however, has taken a more critical view of BRICS.

While speaking about the upcoming summit, he questioned whether recent BRICS meetings had delivered any substantial benefits or concrete outcomes for India.

Chidambaram also said he did not know how many presidents and prime ministers would attend the summit. His criticism focused primarily on the practical results that India has gained from the grouping rather than simply the number of leaders attending the event.

His comments immediately became a political talking point, with the BJP attacking his position and accusing him of failing to recognise India’s growing international profile.

Why Do the Two Congress Leaders Have Different Views?

The contrasting positions of Chidambaram and Tharoor have emerged at a significant moment, with India hosting one of the major international diplomatic gatherings.

Tharoor is emphasising the diplomatic value of the summit, India’s role in bringing countries together and BRICS’ importance for the Global South. Chidambaram, meanwhile, is focusing on whether the grouping has produced tangible results for India.

The difference reflects two distinct ways of assessing the value of an international grouping: diplomatic influence and visibility on one side, and measurable outcomes and national benefits on the other.

However, the statements should not automatically be interpreted as a formal change in the Congress party’s overall position on BRICS.

Challenges Before the BRICS Summit

Tharoor has also acknowledged that BRICS faces significant challenges.

According to him, the grouping does not consist only of opportunities and benefits. One of the major difficulties is the lack of complete agreement among member countries on several global issues.

BRICS members have different strategic priorities, economic interests and foreign-policy positions. Reaching a common position on complicated international questions can therefore be difficult.

A key challenge for the summit will be whether the member countries can agree on a joint declaration covering major global issues.

The Challenge of a Common Declaration

Tharoor referred to the earlier meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, where a joint declaration based on consensus was not issued and a statement was instead released by the chair.

He questioned whether a similar situation could arise during the leaders’ summit.

If member countries fail to agree on a common position on major global issues, it could be interpreted as evidence of differences within the grouping. On the other hand, if India succeeds in bringing countries with different interests towards a common position, it could strengthen India’s diplomatic credentials.

Why BRICS Matters to India

BRICS is important to India from both economic and diplomatic perspectives. The grouping provides India with a platform to engage with major emerging economies and discuss issues related to global economic governance, trade, investment and development.

It also offers India an opportunity to raise issues concerning the Global South and advocate greater representation for developing countries in international institutions.

The platform is particularly significant because it brings India into direct dialogue with major powers such as China and Russia, while also allowing New Delhi to engage with other emerging economies.

Focus Now Shifts to Summit Outcomes

With the summit approaching, the contrasting views within the Congress have added another political dimension to the event.

While Tharoor sees India’s hosting role and diplomatic outreach as major strengths, Chidambaram has raised questions about the concrete benefits generated by BRICS.

The real test will now be the outcome of the summit. The extent to which member countries can reach consensus on major issues and produce meaningful decisions will determine how the meeting is assessed.

A successful joint declaration and substantive agreements could strengthen India’s argument that BRICS remains an important diplomatic platform. On the other hand, visible disagreements among members could fuel questions about the grouping’s effectiveness.