Ashok Tanwar

Early life

He was born in village Chimni of Jhajjar district, Haryana in a Chamar family to Dilbag Singh and Krishna Rathi. He did his BA from the Kakatiya University, Warangal. He went to Jawaharlal Nehru University's centre for Historical studies and completed his M.A., M.Phil PhD(Medieval Indian History).

Political career

Dr. Ashok Tanwar started his career as an activist of the NSUI in JNU.

Rise in politics

Tanwar is among the rising young leaders of Congress party.He is very close to Rahul Gandhi, Who is in charge of the Youth Congress. Tanwar's USP is the JNU connection at a time the Congress's student wing, the National Students Union of India, barely has a presence on the campus.Whenever he contested the president's post in JNU, he got more votes than anyone else (from the NSUI).Tanwar took over as the NSUI secretary in 1999 and became its president in 2003.With two major straight wins in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections since he took over in 2003 and a major improvement in the NSUI performance in the Left dominated JNU, Tanwar had stressed the need for more discipline among NSUI activists during his tenure as its president.

Youth Congress tenure

In Ashok Tanwar's term as president of Indian Youth Congress, the focus to strengthen the "IYC" had shifted to auditoriums, workshops and seminars. Stress on street plays and social work was put to highlight the problems faced by public. Under the leadership of Ashok Tanwar, several programmes highlighting social issues were taken up across the country. The concept of Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi (AAKS) was implemented during his tenure. The programmes meant for empowering youth has been given special significance and as part of that Rahul ji's vision has been given shape through these programmes.Indian Youth Congress had progressed very much under his leadership.

A special aspect of the programmes undertaken during his tenure shows that they have been undertaken in a decentralised manner involving the block, district and state level youth congress. He had given special attention to meritocracy in the organisation. This is reflected in the plans to hold organizational elections in all the states. Now, elections are already been held in Punjab and Gujarat, where youth in mass numbers irrespective of the walks of life have joined youth congress to strengthen the organisation thus strengthening the base of Congress party in all the states.

2009 Lok Sabha elections

He was nominated by the Congress party to contest the Lok Sabha elections 2009 from Sirsa in Haryana and won the seat by defeating his nearst rival Dr. Sita Ram of INLD by a margin of 35499 votes. This win was more significant than any other candidate in Haryana as Sirsa is home district to heavy weight leader of Haryana politics Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala and Ashok Tanwar got less than a month time in constituency to win the battle. With this win, Ashok Tanwar has emerged himself as a leader of National repute as he was one of young candidates handpicked by congress's general secretary Rahul Gandhi to contest the 2009 Lok Sabha election.

2014 Lok Sabha elections

He was again nominated by the Congress Party to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections but lost to Charanjeet Singh Rori of Indian National Lok Dal.

President of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee

Dr.Ashok Tanwar nominated as the president of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee on 14 February 2014 by All India Congress Committee; He is one of the youngest PCC chief of Haryana.

Personal life

In June 2005, Ashok Tanwar married Avantika Maken, daughter of Lalit Maken and maternal grand daughter of former Indian President, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. They have two sons and one daughter.