Fri Oct 04 14:10:39 UTC 2024: ## Former BJP Candidate Ashok Tanwar Joins Congress Ahead of Haryana Elections
**Chandigarh:** In a major blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just two days before the Haryana Assembly elections, former Lok Sabha candidate Ashok Tanwar has rejoined the Congress party. He joined the Congress on Thursday in the presence of Rahul Gandhi and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Tanwar, who had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Sirsa on a BJP ticket, lost to Congress candidate Kumari Selja. He had joined the BJP after resigning from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) where he was the chairman of the election campaign committee.
Tanwar, who has a history of switching political parties, had also formed his own party and briefly joined the Trinamool Congress. He is known for his strong views against the BJP and has criticized them for their “hypocrisy” regarding the Constitution.
His return to the Congress is considered significant as Tanwar enjoys considerable support amongst the Jat community, which constitutes a substantial portion of the electorate in Haryana. The Congress hopes that his entry will boost their chances in the upcoming elections.
Tanwar’s move comes as a setback for the BJP, who had hoped that his presence would strengthen their position in the state. The BJP, however, has downplayed the significance of Tanwar’s move and claims it will not affect their electoral prospects.
The Haryana assembly elections are scheduled to take place on October 21st, 2024. The results will be announced on October 24th.
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