Kanhaiya Kumar joins the Congress, Jignesh Mevani extends support to the party

Former JNUSU president and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar joined the Congress party.

Hitting out at the BJP, Kanhaiya said he is joining the Congress to oppose a harmful ideology that has become dominant in the country.

Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani extended the support to the party and said he can't formally join Congress since he is an independent MLA. However, he added he is a 'part of the Congress ideologically'

While Kanhaiya Kumar met Rahul Gandhi earlier this month, Mevani had been in touch with the leadership. In last Gujarat elections, Congress had withdrawn its candidate from Vadgam in Mevani's support.

The Congress is looking at a revamp with the induction of youth leaders.

Kumar had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Begusarai in Bihar on the CPI ticket against Giriraj Singh of the BJP. While, Mevani is currently an independent legislator in Gujarat and represents the Vadgam constituency. He is the convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch.

There is also buzz around election strategist Prashant Kishor joining the party and help strategise ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.