Ex Congress leader Ashok Tanwar, currently with TMC, likely to join AAP today

Former Congress leader Ashok Tanwar, who had joined the Trinamool Congress in November, is likely to join the Aam Aadmi Party today in New Delhi, reported news agency ANI. Tanwar’s expected move could be a big jolt to Trinamool which has been trying to increase its footprint in Haryana with the help of the former Lok Sabha member.

Tanwar joined TMC after Mamata Banerjee’s party swept the West Bengal assembly elections, crushing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ambition when the saffron party was eying a big win in the state on the back of impressive Lok Sabha results. Trinamool’s dismal performance in the recently-concluded Goa assembly elections, however, may have forced Tanwar to rethink his move.

A once-close aide to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Tanwar floated Apna Bharat Morcha in 2019 after a fallout with the grand old party over his rivalry with Haryana leaders, including former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Despite switching sides, the former Lok Sabha member from Sirsa remains a prominent figure in Haryana politics.

With an eye on the state assembly polls in 2024, Kejriwal’s party has increased in focus on expanding its footprints in Haryana, and Tanwar could well be the key in its journey.

Last week, AAP appointed new office-bearers to strengthen its base in several states, including Haryana. Dinesh Pratap Singh was appointed as co-in charge of the AAP’s political affairs in Haryana and Prabhakar Gaur as organisation secretary, a week after Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Gupta was named in-charge of the AAP’s political affairs in the state.

(With inputs from agencies)