Chandigarh/Mahendragrh: Former Lok Sabha MP Ashok Tanwar has rejoined the Congress party after a series of political shifts that included associations with the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Trinamool Congress. His return was announced at a rally led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Mahendragarh, Haryana, today.
Tanwar, who previously represented Sirsa as a Congress MP and served as the Haryana Congress chief from 2014 to 2019, left the party in 2019. He initially joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 but shifted to AAP the following year. However, he departed from AAP before the recent Lok Sabha elections, citing disagreements with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal regarding an alliance with Congress.
After leaving AAP, Tanwar joined the BJP and ran for the Sirsa constituency in the general elections, where he lost to Congress candidate Kumari Selja.
In a statement regarding his return, the Congress party reiterated its commitment to advocating for marginalized communities. “The Congress has always raised its voice for the oppressed and deprived sections of society. Influenced by our struggle and dedication, senior BJP leader, former MP, and member of BJP’s campaign committee Ashok Tanwar has joined the Congress,” the party stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Interestingly, just hours before his rejoining, Tanwar was actively tweeting in support of BJP candidates for the Haryana Assembly elections. This rapid change in allegiance drew attention as he appeared at the Congress rally, where the announcer referred to his return as “ghar wapasi,” meaning “homecoming,” indicating his reconnection with the party.
Tanwar’s reentry into Congress adds complexity to Haryana’s political landscape, especially as the party seeks to strengthen its position against the ruling BJP in anticipation of upcoming assembly elections.
