The Congress by allowing mindless criticism of Modi at this point can only make itself more unpopular. Worse, it provides proof that the leadership does not have the authority to restrain the loose canons from going off every now and then.

Narendra Modi has made a good beginning. If a Congress leader appreciates that why should Mani Shankar Aiyar have a problem? Well, we wouldn't ever know, like we won’t understand why the Congress’ top leadership would keep silent over off-the-cuff remarks of senior party leaders despite having to cut a sorry figure in the media repeatedly.

“Modi has demonstrated after being named the BJP candidate that he knows no history, that he knows little economics, that he has no knowledge of the Constitution... He keeps saying make me prime minister as I began life selling tea. Fine, if that’s his main qualification and he wants a stall here, we can let him sell tea here.”

That was the irrepressible Aiyar speaking during AICC meet in January this year. This was the time when Modi had established himself as a bona fide national leader, was getting positive response from the masses across the country and had become the media’s darling. Any negative criticism of him had to be weighed carefully, couched in soft words and left open-ended just in case. But trust Aiyar to be reckless with words. The perennial agent provocateur was out there, letting loose his acerbic tongue against Modi and the media lapping it all up.

The Congress’ disapproved of the remark. But the damage was done. The media started loud debates, the BJP got a talking point and people expressed shock at the meanness and arrogance of the party. Aiyar’s utterances became the Congress’ utterances by default. A brilliant mind, in fact, many in the party believe he is more intelligent than required, he would not be unaware of the possible fallout of his statement. Was he trying to embarrass Modi or was he trying to put his party in an avoidable controversy? Of course, the Congress knows the answer, but it cannot do much about it.

He is back again. This time the target is Sashi Tharoor, his party colleague. A day after Tharoor praised Modi, terming his approach towards rivals and personal conduct so far “a pleasant surprise”, Aiyar chided him for being “chameleon like” and demonstrating “great immaturity”. This is when the party has let the matter rest saying, it is Tharoor’s personal view. He could have avoided a remark. But for a leader virtually made redundant in the party and thrown to the fringes – he has been out of Sonia’s inner circle for a long time – staying in public notice is crucial for survival. He could not have let the opportunity go.

For a party that has clearly lost the ability to say the right things at the right time and making the right impression, Tharoor’s was probably a remark in the right direction. It was polite, it had appreciation for the new prime minister, a mild mention of the apprehension Modi raised; and also, it came with caveats.

"We have been extremely concerned about what Mr Modi represents and his aspirations and ambitions on coming to Delhi. What has been a pleasant surprise for the likes of me is the way in which he has actually conducted himself and spoken after his election. From the moment of his victory, he has been amazingly gracious and accommodating particularly in the language he has said and the tone he has used…,” Tharoor told NDTV. In an online article earlier, he had pondered whether "Modi 2.0, a very different figure in government from the ogre some of us had feared and demonized for years? It is still too early to tell, but the initial signs are encouraging..."

Modi indeed has been a surprise for many as prime minister. The qualities of restraint and quiet dignity he has displayed so far were never associated with his image earlier. So why should Aiyar have a problem? The Congress by allowing mindless criticism of Modi at this point can only make itself more unpopular. Worse, it provides proof that the leadership does not have the authority to restrain the loose canons from going off every now and then. That leads us to the bigger question: are the party seniors and the Gandhis even bothered about the public image of the Congress?