New Delhi: It is learnt that the Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday ‘blasted’ former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor over what happened at a party parliamentary strategy meeting, over the leakage in the media of his views against party’s tactics in Parliament.

“Gandhi, who generally does not get angry, literally blasted Tharoor” sources said, adding that the party chief was in no mood to listen to any explanation from him. Her anger was directed at him over the fact that his opposition to disruption tactics at a strategy meeting made its way to the media.

It seems that at the meeting Tharoor had expressed himself against stalling tactics. According to sources, Tharoor said that the stalling tactics would not be effective for three reasons. First, the strength of the Congress is just 44, while the BJP had 110-plus members when it was in the opposition during the last Lok Sabha. Second, it is not clear whether the rest of the opposition will join the Congress, and it remains to be seen if the government can get them on its side. Third, the government will, in all likelihood, brazen out the opposition attack.

Tharoor had argued that the Congress should instead engage in discussion on all issues — be it Vyapam or the Lalit Modi episode — and use facts and figures to drive home its point.

The Congress has been demanding the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the chief ministers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh over Lalit gate and Vyapam. A belligerent Congress leaving no stone unturned to corner the Narendra Modi government over the various scams involving top BJP leaders.

This is not for the first time the Thiruvananthapuram MP has been caught on the wrong foot by the party. Some of his views including what was seen as being appreciative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had caused a controversy earlier.