Haryana election: Who is Ashok Tanwar, who endorsed BJP, then switched to Congress in an hour?

How long does it take to shift the political narrative in India? Not a month, not even a week—but just one hour.

In a dramatic turn of events in Haryana, Ashok Tanwar, a prominent Dalit leader and former MP, made his “ghar wapsi” to the Congress Party, just an hour after backing a BJP candidate.

While the reasons behind this swift change remain unclear, Tanwar’s decision to switch sides just days ahead of critical Haryana elections has dealt a significant blow to the BJP.

But who exactly is Ashok Tanwar, and what led him to this pivotal moment? Let’s take a closer look

‘Let bygones be bygones’

Ashok Tanwar made a swift return to Congress within the span of just an hour on Thursday. The former Lok Sabha MP rejoined the party during a rally in Haryana’s Mahendragarh, where Rahul Gandhi was concluding his speech.

Just as Gandhi was wrapping up, the crowd was asked to wait, setting the stage for a surprising turn.

Tanwar, who had joined the BJP earlier this year, walked up to the stage, and it was declared, “aaj unki ghar wapsi ho gayi hai (today, he has returned to the Congress fold)”. Standing alongside him were senior Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a former rival and the Leader of the Opposition in Haryana.

Reflecting on his decision, Tanwar told 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 while Tanwar had been in touch with senior leadership, especially Rahul Gandhi, the state unit remained unaware of his plans until the last minute. A Congress source told the newspaper, “He had a direct connection with Rahul Gandhi, and the decision to join was firmed up on Wednesday.”

Celebrating Tanwar’s return, the Congress Party announced on X (formerly 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 expected to energise Congress just as the state prepares for the assembly elections, with the party aiming to dethrone the BJP after a decade in power. Haryana voters will head to the polls on Saturday, with results to be announced on Tuesday.

Tanwar’s political stints

Ashok Tanwar has experienced a rollercoaster of political affiliations throughout his career.

His most notable role was as a Congress MP from Sirsa and Haryana Congress chief from 2014 to 2019, before parting ways with the party.

As per The Indian Express report, Tanwar’s long association with the Congress began when he became a rising star within the party. After serving as the president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) from 2003, he led the Indian Youth Congress for five years starting in 2005.

His academic background, including an MPhil and PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, added to his political stature. His close ties with Rahul Gandhi further cemented his prominence in Congress.

His personal life, too, is intertwined with Congress history. His wife, Avantika Maken, lost her parents to Sikh extremists in 1985, and the Gandhi family took her under their care. This bond added another layer to Tanwar’s proximity to the Congress leadership.

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

Despite his close connection with Rahul Gandhi, Tanwar was replaced as state chief in 2019 by another Dalit leader, Kumari Selja after persistent internal conflicts.

Following his exit from Congress in 2019, Tanwar’s political journey became even more complex. He briefly joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 and later switched to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) the following year. However, internal disagreements over AAP’s alliance with Congress led him to leave the party ahead of the general elections.

In a bid to reinvent himself, Tanwar in January joined the BJP under the leadership of then-Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha election but lost to Congress leader Kumari Selja by around three lakh votes. Despite sporadic campaigning for BJP candidates in Sirsa, Tanwar recently vanished from the political scene—only to announce his return to Congress days before the Haryana elections.