Video Producer: Mayank Chawla
Video Editor: Mohd. Irshad Alam
Former Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Tuesday, 28 September, joined the Congress party, in the presence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Jignesh Mevani, an independent MLA from Gujarat, lent support to the party, as he could not formally join owing to "technical reasons".
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(Photo accessed by The Quint)
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(Photo accessed by The Quint)
Shortly afterwards, the duo attended a press conference in Delhi, addressing which Congress General Secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said:
"We look forward to working with these young leaders, Kumar and Mevani, to defeat the fascist forces ruling this country."KC Venugopal
Venugopal also dubbed Kumar "a symbol of the fight for freedom of expression in this country," and added:
"He fought against fundamentalism as a student leader. The joining of his kind of dynamic personality will fill the entire cadre of Congress with enthusiasm."
Mevani's Reason for Not Formally Joining
Addressing the press, Mevani on Tuesday shed light on the "technical reasons" keeping him from joining the Congress party. He explained:
"I am an independent MLA, if I join a party, I may not continue as an MLA."
He also, however, stated that he is becoming part of the Congress "ideologically" and that he will fight the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections from Congress symbol.
Later in the day, he issued an official statement on Twitter, saying that he had decided to extend his full support to the Congress party in spirit.
"India is facing an uphill battle against the fascist forces, and it is about time we fight them unitedly. Indian National Congress has an impeccable record in India's struggle against oppressors, and I am confident that we shall reclaim and retain the spirit of democratic India together," he said.
Kanhaiya's Reason:
Meanwhile, Kanhaiya Kumar was quoted by ANI as saying:
"I am joining Congress because I feel that an ideology is trying to ruin the values, culture, history, and future of this country... Crores of youngsters feel that this country can't be saved without saving Congress."
He also stated that Congress is not just a party, but also an idea.
"It's the country's oldest and most democratic party, and I am emphasising on 'democratic'."
Further, Kumar claimed that he is not alone in thinking that the country cannot survive without the Congress.
"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
Kanhaiya Kumar Must Have Had Some Personal Ambitions: CPI Gen Secy Reacts
Meanwhile, reacting to Kanhaiya Kumar's induction into the Congress party, CPI General Secretary D Raja said Kumar must have had "some personal ambitions and aspirations."
"He (Kanhaiya Kumar) has expelled himself from my party. CPI has been fighting for a caste-less, class-less society. He must be having some personal ambitions and aspirations. It shows that he has no faith in communist and working-class ideology."D Raja
Pointing out that CPI existed before Kumar joined, D Raja said "and (it) will succeed even after his expulsion."
"Our party is for selfless struggle and sacrifices. He (Kanhaiya Kumar) was not straightforward and truthful to my party."
Visuals: Kanhaiya, Mevani and Rahul Gandhi at Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Park
Prior to the official announcement, visuals emerged of the duo meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Park in Delhi.
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Visual of Jignesh Mevani and Kanhaiya Kumar, along with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Shaheedi Park in Delhi.
(Photo accessed by The Quint)
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Visual of Jignesh Mevani and Kanhaiya Kumar, along with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Shaheedi Park in Delhi.
(Photo accessed by The Quint)
Meanwhile, Congress national coordinator Ravindra Dalvi took to Twitter to welcome Mevani and Kumar to the party and thank Rahul Gandhi.
More About Mevani, Kanhaiya
The two politicians, who are known for their vociferous opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have notably been inducted into the Congress on the birth anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
"We, youngsters, want to work in the Congress, under a leader who talks about development and prosperity. We've raised voice for people of country in past, want to strengthen them and be their voice," said Gujarat Congress Working President Hardik Patel on Tuesday, ahead of Kumar and Mevani's joining.
Mevani, who belongs to the Dalit community and represents Gujarat's Vadgam constituency, could be made a working president of the party's state unit, sources have indicated.
Meanwhile, former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union President Kumar, who had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from his hometown of Begusarai in Bihar but had lost to the BJP's Giriraj Singh, is expected to bring a few other left-wing leaders with him to the Congress party.
It is quite likely that Mevani and Kumar would be a part of the Congress's campaign in the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur.
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