CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar joins Congress, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani extends moral support

Sept. 28: In a significant move, CPI leader and former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar joined Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday. Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani said he is ideologically with the party as he couldn’t join due to technical reasons. The Congress is the only alternative to the BJP on at least 200 Lok Sabha seats, Mr. Kumar said at the Congress headquarters addressing a hall packed with his supporters and media personnel.

“Congress party is like a big ship, if it’s saved, I believe many people’s aspirations, Mahatma Gandhi’s oneness, Bhagat Singh’s courage and BR Ambedkar’s idea of equality will be protected too. This is why I have joined it…” Kanhaiya Kumar said. Meanwhile, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani who contested as an independent MLA also attended the presser and said, “I could not join the Congress formally due to technical reasons. I am an independent MLA, if I join a party, I may not continue as an MLA… I am part of the Congress ideologically, will fight the upcoming Gujarat polls from Congress symbol.”

Former JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar had joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election and had unsuccessfully contested from Begusarai in Bihar against Giriraj Singh of the BJP. Mevani, who is currently a legislator in Gujarat and represents the Vadgam constituency, is the convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch (RDAM).