Five different political parties in as many years; 'Aayaram-Gayaram' is right term to describe Ashok Tanwar

Switching political parties is not a new thing during election seasons in India. The country’s political system allows leaders to switch over to any party of their choice at any point of time.

There is nothing wrong in it, but when a ‘star campaigner’ of a political party decides to join some other party just a few hours before the election campaign ends, it could be an issue for the party concerned.

Haryana has got a new ‘Aayaram-Gayaram’. We are talking about Ashok Tanwar, who was seeking blessings from the party elders such as Haryana C M Naib Singh Saini, and sharing the social media posts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi through his media handles, a while ago but is now a part of Congress.

Why did Ashok Tanwar switch over?

It reminds us of the story of ‘Aayaram-Gayaram’ (term used for unstable things or people who could not be trusted) again. We will talk about that story too but first let us know who Ashok Tanwar is?

Who’s Ashok Tanwar?

Tanwar is a resident of Chimni village of Jhajjar district of Haryana. Tanwar, who comes from a Dalit community, was the main face of the BJP in the state for a long time. While with Congress, he would be counted among the people close to Rahul Gandhi. In due course of time, he was appointed as President of the Indian Youth Congress. He then won the LS polls from Sirsa constituency in 2009. Later in 2014, he also had an opportunity to serve as President, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee.

Political parties that Ashok Tanwar has been a part of 

Ashok Tanwar exited from Congress just 16 days before the 2019 assembly elections. From TMC to AAP and then to BJP right before the Lok Sabha polls, he switched parties for power.

He was also a part of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). When things did not work out there, on 4 April 2022, he took up the broom of Aam Aadmi Party. But things did not work there either as the Aam Aadmi Party, instead sending Tanwar to RS, finally sent ND Gupta.

Following this, on January 18, 2024, even the broom did not suit Tanwar sahab.
Now, his new destination was Bharatiya Janata Party. Two days after leaving Aam Aadmi Party, he saw future with the BJP.

“The country has changed in the last 10 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am impressed by the works being done by him to make India number one,” he commented after joining the BJP.

“I would work towards nation-building. I would also work with CM Manohar Lal Khattar and party state president Nayab Singh Saini as one of the team members to ensure 400 Lok Sabha seats for the BJP in 2024,” he would say during those days.

5 parties in 5 years, Tanwar’s politics of 360 degrees

Within eight months of these developments, Tanwar again felt like switching parties. He left BJP for Congress 48 hours before voting in Haryana,  Here, his political journey took a 360 degree turn. From Congress to TMC, TMC to Aam Aadmi Party, Aam Aadmi Party to BJP and finally joining the Congress one again.

For Tanwar, who could sense his future with Congress just two days before the voting in Haryana, there is no guarantee that his loyalty would not shift again after the poll results are declared on October 8.

In 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Tanwar, who contested on a BJP ticket, was defeated by Kumari Selja of Congress by more than 2 lakh 67 thousand votes. This was the third consecutive Lok Sabha election defeat.

‘Welcome to the Congress family’

Meanwhile, the Congress is elated after Ashok Tanwar joined hands with Rahul Gandhi in a rally in Mahendragarh.
It was posted on the official account of the Congress party, ‘Congress has constantly raised the voice for the rights of the oppressed, the deprived and has fought with full honesty to protect the Constitution. Impressed by our struggle and dedication, today senior BJP leader, former MP, member of BJP’s campaign committee in Haryana and star campaigner Shri Ashok Tanwar joined the Congress. Your joining will strengthen the fight for the rights of Dalits. Welcome back to the Congress family, best wishes for the future.’

How did the story of Aayaram-Gayaram come into being?

Whenever there is a discussion about ‘weather scientists’ or in other words those who change parties in politics, the interesting story comes alive.
The phrase ‘Aayaram-Gayaram’, which goes well the party-changers, emerged from Haryana itself. The year was 1967 and Gayalal was an independent MLA from Haryana’s Hasanpur (reserved) seat.
Gayalal changed his party four times in a single day. This phrase started after the fall of the government of Haryana CM Bhagwat Dayal Sharma at that time.
After the fall of Bhagwat Dayal Sharma’s government, the MLAs who broke away from the Congress formed the Vishal Haryana Party.
A new alliance was formed in the name of United Front. It was led by Rao Birendra Singh, a big leader South Haryana.