Overview
- Joshi formally entered the party on October 1 at a Chandigarh event attended by Bhupesh Baghel, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Partap Singh Bajwa and Gurjeet Singh Aujla.
- His induction followed recent meetings in Delhi with Rahul Gandhi and K. C. Venugopal.
- The Punjab Congress launched a 'vote-chori' signature drive targeting 15 lakh signatures under a nationwide 5 crore push, and leaders said Joshi's entry would strengthen the party.
- Local speculation links Joshi to the Congress ticket for the upcoming Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, but the party has not announced a candidate.
- Joshi was expelled from the BJP in 2021 over criticism of the farm laws, later joined the SAD and lost the 2024 Amritsar Lok Sabha race, with PTI reporting a June return to SAD that he denies, citing a November 2024 resignation.