Shashi Tharoor at the Jaipur Literature Festival
In views that could further upset his Congress party, Shashi Tharoor has attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a shift from "politics of identity to politics of performance" in the country.
Mr Tharoor was reading from his new book "India Shastra", a collection of essays, at the annual Jaipur Literature Festival or LitFest on Friday.
"Modi could earn his place in history but we in the opposition are not yet convinced," the Congress MP said, adding, "But Modi is a shift in politics from politics of identity to politics of performance."
The compliment was tempered with some criticism as he observed that while PM Modi's appeal is his focus on development and governance, he is "giving a free rein to retrograde elements (who are) rewriting text books, praising ancient science over modern science...He cannot be oblivious to these elements and they could be his undoing."
PM Modi had won a "phenomenal mandate" for a shining India, Mr Tharoor commented, but wondered whether he "really has a game plan" for sustained economic growth.
The MP was reprimanded last week by the Congress for remarks at the Kolkata literary festival that were seen as praise for the prime minister.
Earlier this week, the 58-year-old former union minister was questioned by the police for over four hours on the alleged murder of his wife Sunanda Pushkar at a five-star hotel suite in Delhi a year ago.
Since PM Modi took power in May, Mr Tharoor's assessment of him has been seen by his party men as unduly admiring. In October, he was dropped as spokesperson of the Congress after party leaders in Kerala complained that he had praised the PM once too often.
Another Congress leader, Janardan Dwivedi, is also in trouble his leadership for purportedly calling PM Modi's election a victory of Indian-ness and the start of a new era in an interview. The veteran leader has clarified the remarks and said he was misquoted.