Who is Ashok Tanwar, that backed BJP, after that converted to Congress in an hour?- Economy Junction

How lengthy does it require to maneuver the political story in India? Not a month, not additionally every week– nonetheless merely one hour.

In a major flip of events in Haryana, Ashok Tanwar, a noticeable Dalit chief and former MP, made his “ghar wapsi” to the Congress Party, merely an hour after backing a BJP prospect.

While the elements behind this fast modification keep imprecise, Tanwar’s selection to change over sides merely days upfront of important Haryana political elections has really dealt a substantial impression to the BJP.

But that particularly is Ashok Tanwar, and what led him to this turning level? Let’s take a extra detailed look

‘Let bygones be bygones’

Ashok Tanwar made a rapid return to Congress inside the interval of merely an hour onThursday The earlier Lok Sabha MP rejoined the celebration all through a rally in Haryana’s Mahendragarh, the place Rahul Gandhi was ending his speech.

Just as Gandhi was finishing, the group was requested to attend, establishing the section for an surprising flip.

Tanwar, that had signed up with the BJP beforehand this yr, approached the section, and it was acknowledged, “aaj unki ghar wapsi ho gayi hai (today, he has gone back to the Congress layer)”. Standing alongside him had been senior Congress leaders, together with Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a former rival and the Leader of the Opposition in Haryana.

Reflecting on his choice, Tanwar informed The Indian Express, “Today marks exactly five years of my comeback. I quit the party on the same day five years back…Whatever happened in the past is history. Let bygones be bygones. I and the entire Congress shall now be working towards building Haryana into the number one state.”

Congress insiders revealed that whereas Tanwar had been in contact with senior management, particularly Rahul Gandhi, the state unit remained unaware of his plans till the final minute. A Congress supply informed the newspaper, “He had a direct connection with Rahul Gandhi, and the decision to join was firmed up on Wednesday.”

कांग्रेस ने लगातार शोषितों, वंचितों के हक़ की आवाज़ उठाई है और संविधान की रक्षा के लिए पूरी ईमानदारी से लड़ाई लड़ी है।

हमारे इस संघर्ष और समर्पण से प्रभावित होकर आज BJP के वरिष्ठ नेता, पूर्व सांसद, हरियाणा में BJP की कैंपेन कमेटी के सदस्य और स्टार प्रचारक श्री अशोक तंवर… pic.twitter.com/DynuJEleSE

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 3, 2024

Celebrating Tanwar’s return, the Congress Party introduced on X (previously Twitter), “The Congress has always raised its voice for the oppressed and deprived sections of society. Influenced by our struggle and dedication, senior BJP leader… Ashok Tanwar joined the Congress.”

Tanwar’s comeback is predicted to energise Congress simply because the state prepares for the meeting elections, with the celebration aiming to dethrone the BJP after a decade in energy. Haryana voters will head to the polls on Saturday, with outcomes to be introduced on Tuesday.

Tanwar’s political stints

Ashok Tanwar has skilled a rollercoaster of political affiliations all through his profession.

His most notable position was as a Congress MP from Sirsa and Haryana Congress chief from 2014 to 2019, earlier than parting methods with the celebration.

As per The Indian Express report, Tanwar’s lengthy affiliation with the Congress started when he turned a rising star inside the celebration. After serving because the president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) from 2003, he led the Indian Youth Congress for 5 years beginning in 2005.

His tutorial background, together with an MPhil and PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, added to his political stature. His shut ties with Rahul Gandhi additional cemented his prominence in Congress.

His private life, too, is intertwined with Congress historical past. His spouse, Avantika Maken, misplaced her mother and father to Sikh extremists in 1985, and the Gandhi household took her below their care. This bond added one other layer to Tanwar’s proximity to the Congress management.

In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Tanwar efficiently contested from Sirsa on a Congress ticket. By 2014, he was appointed Haryana Congress president, however his tenure was marked by frequent clashes with Haryana Congress heavyweight and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Despite his shut reference to Rahul Gandhi, Tanwar was changed as state chief in 2019 by one other Dalit chief, Kumari Selja after persistent inner conflicts.

Following his exit from Congress in 2019, Tanwar’s political journey turned much more complicated. He briefly joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 and later switched to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) the next yr. However, inner disagreements over AAP’s alliance with Congress led him to go away the celebration forward of the overall elections.

In a bid to reinvent himself, Tanwar in January joined the BJP below the management of then-Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He contested within the 2024 Lok Sabha election however misplaced to Congress chief Kumari Selja by round three lakh votes. Despite sporadic campaigning for BJP candidates in Sirsa, Tanwar just lately vanished from the political scene—solely to announce his return to Congress days earlier than the Haryana elections.

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