# Tharoor calls ‘quockerwodger’ word of era, takes dig at BJP

2026-09-20T20:07:03+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday called the 19th-century English slang term 'quockerwodger' the 'word of our era' and said, 'I think our ruling party has spawned a few of these in the last dozen years.' The word, which originally referred to a jointed wooden puppet, has a figurative political meaning: a puppet politician controlled by someone else. Tharoor shared a screenshot of the definition on X. This is not the first time Tharoor has used the word. He had posted it in April 2022, calling it a useful addition to political vocabulary. The Congress leader from Thiruvananthapuram, known for his vocabulary, has previously targeted the BJP with obscure words such as 'allodoxaphobia', 'farrago' and 'troglodyte'. No official response from the BJP has been reported.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three outlets report the same facts: Tharoor called 'quockerwodger' the 'word of our era' and said the ruling party has spawned such political puppets. Livemint and Times of India frame it as a 'political jab' or dig, while Rediff calls it a 'subtle critique'. No source carries any government response or counters Tharoor's claim. The coverage is uniform straight reportage of a social media post and its past instances. The difference is only in headline vividness, not in editorial stance. The implication is that Tharoor's wordplay generates viral moments but little substantive debate. The next test is whether the BJP responds or dismisses the remark in public.

## Coverage

- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/news/india/quockerwodger-is-the-word-of-our-era-shashi-tharoor-s-latest-vocabulary-lesson-comes-with-a-political-jab-for-bjp-11789907207702.html>
  Leads with Tharoor's post, frames it as a political jab, includes a minor typo aside for colour.
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/quockerwodger-shashi-tharoors-latest-vocabulary-lesson-takes-aim-at-bjp/articleshow/134370049.cms>
  Leads with Tharoor's wordplay, frames it as a dig, notes past usage in 2022.
- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/news/report/quockerwodger-whom-is-tharoor-targeting-with-his-latest-wordplay/20260920.htm>
  Leads with the word definition and Tharoor's critique, uses 'subtle critique' in framing.

Tags: BJP, Congress, Shashi Tharoor
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