TANWAR BACKS JJP’S DUSHYANT
ALSO SUPPORTS INLD’S ABHAY CHAUTALA FROM ELLENABAD
NEW DELHI/HISAR : Hours after former Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar announced his support to Dushyant Chautalaled Jananayak Janta Party (JJP) in state polls, he decided to also back senior INLD leader Abhay Chautala on Ellenabad seat.
Addressing a press conference at Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, Tanwar, who had resigned from the party a few days, pledged his support to Dushyant and his Jananayak Janta Party (JJP) in the Haryana assembly elections, saying that he is prepared for a “surgical strike” against his rivals.
“I have laid down the landmine for enemies and this is the first surgical strike on them,” Tanwar told reporters. “From now onwards, Congress will fight at the third or fourth position and their lies and arrogance will end,” he said.
Extending his support to Dushyant, Tanwar said that he will now actively campaign against the Congress. “No less than 36 castes in Haryana will get together to ensure that a young and corruption-free Dushyant Chautala becomes the next chief minister of the state,” said Tanwar. He, however, ruled out joining the JJP.
Without naming anyone, he said that the hubris of some arrogant leaders in the Congress should be eliminated. The party was going through an internal strife owing to this, he added.
His support to the JJP comes days after he quit the Congress alleging that senior leaders of the party were lobbying and favouring their friends. He also alleged that there was an attempt to “eliminate young leaders” close to former party president Rahul Gandhi. Tanwar has had a longstanding rivalry with senior Haryana leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Last month, in the run up to the assembly polls, he was removed as the president of the Haryana state unit. Days before he quit, he stood outside AICC headquarters and alleged that some senior leaders were distributing tickets for money.
Later in the day, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader and candidate from Ellenabad assembly segment Abhay Chuatala met Tanwar at his Sirsa residence. After the meeting, Tanwar told media that he will support INLD leader Abhay Chautala in Ellenabad. “I will also support candidates who always worked for the betterment of the Congress, but were ignored while allocating assembly tickets,” Tanwar said.
“I will also support the JJP on seats from where candidates are in a strong position,” Tanwar added. “I and Tanwar have the same motive — to dethrone the BJP in Haryana,” said Abhay.
“The Congress did not give Tanwar his due and I personally invited him for support. I also invited Tanwar for a rally in Ellenabad on October 19,” Abhay added.
In the interest of the state, I have taken a crucial decision to support Dushyant, his party and other good candidates. Dushyant should become chief minister. My support aims to strengthen the youth leadership and to clean politics from the clutches of corrupt elements.
ASHOK TANWAR, former Haryana Congress president