New Delhi: Former Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) President Kanhaiya Kumar along with independent Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday joined the Congress in presence of former party President Rahul Gandhi.
Kanhaiya and Mevani arrived Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Park in Delhi's ITO where they were greeted by several party workers.
The two leaders joined the Congress party on a day that coincides with the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
Ahead of their joining, posters welcoming Kanhaiya Kumar to the party were put up outside the Congress office in Delhi.
"I am joining Congress because it's not just a party, it's an idea. It's the country's oldest and most democratic party, and I am emphasising on 'democratic'...Not just me many think that country can't survive without Congress," Kanhaiya said after joining the party.
"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 & BR Ambedkar's idea of equality will be protected too. This is why I have joined it," he added.
Congress party made it a high profile induction with Gujarat Congress Working President Hardik Patel saying that youngsters want to work in Congress, under a leader who talks about development and prosperity.
"We have raised voice for people of the country in past, want to strengthen them and be their voice," Patel said while speaking to news agency ANI.
Both Kanhaiya and Mewani had met Rahul Gandhi in the past and Congress wanted to rope in these two leaders ahead of assembly polls and particularly Mevani before Gujarat polls for their oratory and crowd-pulling capabilities.
Kanhaiya Kumar
Kanhaiya Kumar joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) during the 2019 general election and contested against Giriraj Singh of the BJP from his hometown Begusarai. However, lost the election.
A former president of the JNU students' union, Kanhaiya Kumar came into limelight after he was jailed over "anti-national slogans" raised at an event in 2016 to mark the death anniversary of Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru inside the university campus.
Jignesh Mewani
Jignesh Mevani is a lawyer activist and former journalist serving as the representative of the Vadgam constituency in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He is an independent legislator and the convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch.
Mewani won the election with support of the Congress. The trio of Alpesh Thakor, Hardik Patel and Mevani was with the Congress in 2017 elections when Congress did put up a good show but could not win elections.
However, the grand old party has roped in Mevani ahead of polls while Alpesh has joined the BJP.