Former Punjab Minister Anil Joshi joins Congress

Former Punjab Minister Anil Joshi on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) joined the Congress within the presence of get together’s State in-charge and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel right here.

His becoming a member of got here days after Mr. Joshi met Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and get together common secretary (organisation) Ok.C. Venugopal in Delhi.

Addressing the media in Chandigrarh, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring mentioned Mr. Joshi, who has a giant identify in Punjab, has determined to hitch the Congress. “I welcome him into the party,” he mentioned.

Leader of Opposition within the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla and different get together’s senior leaders have been current on the becoming a member of ceremony. Mr. Joshi, a former BJP chief, was expelled from the get together after he criticised the Centre for “mishandling” the farm agitation towards the now-repealed farm legal guidelines in 2021. Thereafter, he joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Mr. Joshi was elected Amritsar North MLA in 2007 and within the 2012 Assembly polls on a BJP ticket. He was made the Local Bodies, Medical Education and Research Minister throughout the SAD-BJP regime from 2012-2017.

He had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar seat on a SAD ticket. He tendered his resignation from the Akali Dal in November final yr.

In June this yr, Mr. Joshi rejoined the SAD within the presence of get together president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Ludhiana.