Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are all set to join the Congress, amid speculation that they are likely to contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections scheduled for October 5. Phogat, is expected to mount challenge for the Julana seat held by the Jannayak Janta Party’s Amarjeet Dhanda while Punia is likely to contest from Badli seat. Both Phogat and Punia met Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. They also met Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal. Phogat and Punia joining the Congress at this time is significant because it is both nominating election candidates and is engaged in seat-sharing talks with the Aam Aadmi Party.
Punia is a Tokyo Games bronze medallist, while Phogat became the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final, the stage where she was disqualified after being found overweight by about 100 gm in her 50-kg category weigh-in. She subsequently announced her retirement from the sport
The Congress’ X handle shared the picture of Phogat and Punia with Rahul.
The party as well as the duo have remained tight-lipped about the speculations. However, a clearer picture could emerge in a day or two.
Sources said that Phogat wanted to fight from the Julana seat, but the Congress had initially wanted her to contest from another seat near Gurugram. Sources said deliberations are on to finalise the seats for the two wrestlers with Julana and Badli seats under consideration for Phogat and Punia respectively.
The Congress put out a photograph of Gandhi with Phogat and Punia on its official X handle.
Asked whether Phogat and Punia could contest on a Congress ticket, AICC general secretary in-charge of Haryana Deepak Babaria said there is a possibility and it would become clear by Thursday or Friday. Punia is a Tokyo Games bronze medallist, while Phogat became the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final, the stage where she was disqualified after being found over weight by about 100 gm in her 50-kg category weigh-in. She subsequently announced her retirement from the sport. The Congress’ Central Election Committee (CEC) cleared the names of candidates for 66 seats out of 90 till Tuesday.
Punia and Phogat were part of the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.
Both Phogat and Punia have backed the farmers’ protest. When farmers launched an agitation against the Central government’s three farm laws in 2020, Phogat showed solidarity with the protesters. In one of her tweets at the time, she said that farmers just want respect for their hard work. The Olympian wrestler had also participated in the protests. Phogat recently joined farmers at the Shambhu border as their protest for a legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) marked its 200th day on August 31.
