In a major political development in Punjab, former BJP minister and two-time Amritsar North MLA, Anil Joshi, formally joined the Congress on Wednesday, signaling a potential realignment ahead of upcoming electoral battles. Joshi, known for his strong influence in Amritsar and prior stints in the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), took the plunge in the presence of senior leaders, including Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The decision follows a recent meeting in Delhi with Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal, after which Joshi stated, “Given the current circumstances, I believe only the Congress can lead Punjab toward development.” Expressing gratitude to the party, he added that he looked forward to contributing meaningfully to its mission.
Joshi brings significant political heft to the Congress. He has previously held key ministerial portfolios, including Local Bodies and Medical Education, and was elected as MLA in 2007 and 2012 on a BJP ticket. His electoral influence was evident during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Amritsar, where Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla won with just 28.18% of votes, defeating AAP’s Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal (23.73%) and BJP’s Taranjit Singh Sandhu (22.88%). Joshi, contesting on an SAD ticket, drew away 18% of votes, which likely altered the outcome in favor of Congress.
Joshi’s political journey has been eventful. He was expelled from the BJP in 2021 for criticizing the Centre’s handling of the farmers’ protest. He then joined SAD, resigned after losing the Lok Sabha elections in November 2023, briefly rejoined the party in June 2024, and has now decisively switched to Congress.
Punjab Congress leaders welcomed Joshi’s induction, highlighting his influence in the state. “He has a big name in Punjab, and I welcome him,” said Raja Warring, while senior leaders like Partap Singh Bajwa, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, and Gurjeet Singh Aujla were present, signaling strong internal support for this political addition.
