Haryana Assembly Election: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia Join Congress As Party Eyes Jat Votes

Updated: Friday, September 6, 2024, 16:06 [IST]

Renowned wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Indian National Congress today, just ahead of the key Haryana Assembly elections.

This comes days after their meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on September 4, sparking widespread speculation about their political move.

Photo Credit: PTI

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP KC Venugopal meet wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, in New Delhi, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. Phogat and Punia have joined the Congress on Friday ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls

Both Punia and Phogat were at the forefront of protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former BJP MP and ex-chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, accusing him of harassing young wrestlers.

#WATCH | Delhi | On joining Congress, Bajrang Punia says, "...What BJP IT Cell is saying today that we just wanted to do politics...We had written to all women BJP MPs to stand with us but they still didnt come. We are paying to raise the voices of women but now we know that BJP… pic.twitter.com/FGViVeGJLY
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024

Following their meeting with Gandhi, opposition figures have been vocal.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar commented, "I think our athletes got trapped in a political maze during the protests. What started back then is reaching its climax now. The wrestlers' protests were politically motivated. These people (wrestlers) are seeking a ticket from the Congress. This means that there is a nexus. If it wasn't clear then, it is absolutely clear now," as reported by ANI.

The Congress sees the wrestlers' entry into politics as an opportunity to capitalise on the anti-incumbency wave in the state and consolidate the Jat votes.

#WATCH | After joining the Congress party, Vinesh Phogat says, "The fight is continuing, it hasnt ended yet. Its in Court. We will win that fight as well... With the new platform that we are getting today, we will work for the service of the nation. The way we played our game… pic.twitter.com/WRKn5Aufv2
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024

Last month, Phogat missed an Olympic medal due to disqualification, prompting Haryana minister Bhupinder Hooda to propose offering her a Rajya Sabha seat. However, she was ineligible due to age.

The Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October 5, 2024, with vote counting on October 8.