Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, October 3-
In a blow to the BJP on the last day of campaigning in Haryana, Ashok Tanwar who was the party’s candidate from Sirsa for the Lok Sabha elections a few months ago, rejoined the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi moments after his last rally for the Assembly polls in Mahendragarh on Thursday. Senior state Congress leaders, including his former Congress rival and state Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, were also present.
Congress sources close to Tanwar said “he was in touch with the senior Congress leadership, particularly Gandhi, and the state unit did not know about it. “He had a direct connection with Rahul Gandhi and the decision to join was firmed up on Wednesday,” said a Congress insider.