In a surprising political twist, former Lok Sabha MP Ashok Tanwar has rejoined the Indian National Congress after a brief tenure with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His return was marked during a rally led by party leader Rahul Gandhi in Mahendragarh today.
Tanwar, who represented the Sirsa constituency in the Lok Sabha, initially joined the BJP in January 2024, unsuccessfully contesting the recent general elections under the BJP’s ‘lotus’ symbol. His political journey has been marked by several party switches; after leaving Congress in 2019, he briefly joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 and then the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2022. He exited AAP before the Lok Sabha polls, objecting to the party’s alliance with Congress, which eventually led him to the BJP.
The Congress party welcomed Tanwar’s return, highlighting his commitment to advocating for the oppressed and underprivileged sections of society. “Influenced by our struggle and dedication, senior BJP leader, former MP, member of BJP’s campaign committee and star campaigner Ashok Tanwar joined the Congress,” stated the party in a post on social media platform X.
Interestingly, Tanwar had tweeted in support of BJP candidates contesting the Haryana Assembly elections earlier on the same day he rejoined Congress, only to delete those tweets shortly before the rally. His return to Congress coincides with the last day of campaigning for the Haryana Assembly elections, where all 90 constituencies are set to vote on Saturday, with results to be counted on Tuesday. While the Congress party is aiming to regain power in the state, the BJP is looking to secure a third consecutive term.
With a strong academic background, holding MPhil and PhD degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Tanwar began his political career with the Congress’s student wing, the National Students Union of India, and has served in various leadership roles within the party, including as the president of the Indian Youth Congress.
As the political landscape in Haryana intensifies ahead of the elections, Tanwar’s rapid changes in allegiance have drawn attention, raising questions about party loyalty and strategic positioning in the lead-up to the polls.
Sources By Agencies
