As Congress Candidates for Haryana…
On Wednesday Afternoon, 04 September 2024, Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress and will contest next month's Haryana Assembly election.
Ms. Phogat will contest for the Julana seat held by the Jannayak Janta Party's Amarjeet Dhanda.
Mr. Punia's likely seat is unclear. The two met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, after which news of their political and electoral debut was confirmed.
Ms. Phogat and Mr. Punia made headlines last year after leading protests against former wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Singh, who faces charges of sexual assault and intimidation.
At that time, He was also a BJP MP but was denied a ticket to defend Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat.
The BJP, instead, fielded his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, who won the seat.
The Congress hopes that bringing Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on board will strengthen its appeal among voters in the state, which the BJP has ruled since 2014.
Ms. Phogat's connection with Haryana farmers - lakhs of whom continue to protest against the BJP on issues like legal guarantees for MSP - will also have been a factor in the Congress' consideration.
Last week Ms Phogat visited farmers camped out at a protest site in Shambhu on the Haryana-Delhi border, describing herself as "your daughter" and saying she prays to God to deliver justice for them.
Edited By: Tanvi Walia
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