Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia Join Congress Ahead of Haryana Polls

New Delhi: Wrestlers  Vinesh Phogat  and Bajrang Punia joined the  Congress  party on Friday, at INC President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Rajaji Marg in New Delhi. 

Both the wrestlers joined the grand old party after meeting party President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary KC Venugopal. 

This political development came as assembly elections in Haryana are scheduled to happen in the upcoming months.  

Speculation also intensified earlier about the possible political entry of star wrestlers  Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia and a meeting was held between the athletes and  Congress leaders  Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal at Rahul Gandhi 's residence on 10 Akbar Road, Janpath a few days ago.

Both the wrestlers and Rahul Gandhi held a meet for nearly 40 minutes, coming on the heels of rumours that the wrestlers may contest polls in the upcoming  Haryana Assembly elections on a Congress ticket.  

As  Haryana prepares for its assembly elections, the potential involvement of high-profile athletes like Phogat and Punia could significantly impact the political landscape, if they choose to align with the Congress party.

Both Joined Protest Over Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Brij Bhushan

Punia is a Tokyo Games bronze medalist, meanwhile, Vinesh is the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final but was disqualified after she was found overweight by about 100 gm in her 50-kg category weigh-in. 

Vinesh subsequently announced her retirement from the sport following her disqualifications in the finals. 

Both Punia and Phogat led the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief of that time, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.

Congress and AAP are in a fray to conclude a seat-sharing formula in the poll-bound state with talks going on amid hard bargaining from both sides.

Voting on 90 assembly seats in Haryana will be held on October 5 and counting of votes will be undertaken on October 8