Chandigarh, Jan 18: In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Haryana, senior leader Ashok Tanwar quit the party on Thursday, expressing displeasure with its alignment with the Congress.
In a letter to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Tanwar wrote, “In view of the current political scenario and your alignment with the Indian National Congress, my ethics won’t allow me to continue as chairman, Election Campaign Committee, Aam Aadmi Party Haryana.” “Therefore, kindly accept my resignation from primary membership and all other responsibilities of the Aam Aadmi Party,” he added.
Tanwar further said that he would continue to work for the betterment of the state of Haryana, “Bharat” and its people. “As a responsible citizen of this country and being into active politics since my student days, I have always believed in our Constitution, the country and its people first,” he added.
Tanwar’s resignation came as another setback to the AAP in Haryana as two of its senior leaders, former minister Nirmal Singh and state unit vice-president Chitra Sarwara, quit the outfit last month.
Tanwar had joined AAP in April 2022. A Dalit community leader, he had earlier been the president of the Haryana Congress. Tanwar was once considered close to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The former Hisar MP left the Congress in 2019 following differences with former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
At that time he said he would float a new party that would focus on all sections of society and on Delhi’s Dalit and minority population by highlighting the issue of demolition of Ravidas Temple in South Delhi.
Later he had switched over to the Trinamool Congress and in April 2022 he joined AAP in the presence of Kejriwal in Delhi.
In a related development, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation mayoral election was postponed on Thursday as presiding officer Anil Masih was unwell. In the afternoon, the administration announced the election to the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor would be held on February 6.
“This decision follows a thorough assessment of the security and law and order situation by the Senior Superintendent of Police,” it said in a statement.
High drama was witnessed as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress councillors registered their protest over the postponement of the polls at the last minute. Both the Congress and the AAP have lashed out at the BJP after the cancellation of polls. Both are a coalition of the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (Agencies)
