Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia joined Congress, to Contest Haryana Polls !

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress Wednesday and will contest next month's Haryana Assembly election. Phogat, 30, is expected to challenge for the Julana seat held by the Jannayak Janta Party's Amarjeet Dhanda. Punia, 30, will defend the Congress' Badli seat, reports NDTV. 

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met with wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia before heading to Kashmir this morning, The meeting comes as the Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC) convened to finalise its list of candidates for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.

Though, the Congress has remained tightlipped about whether Punia and Phogat could be fielded with AICC general secretary in-charge Haryana Deepak Babaria saying that there will be clarity on it by Thursday.

Punia and Phogat were part of the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.

Vinesh Phogat's rumoured foray into Haryana politics is a major point of intrigue. If she decides to enter politics, it is expected to fuel the controversy around former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. 

Just four days ago, Olympian Vinesh Phogat joined the farmers' protest at the Shambhu border and showed them her unwavering support. Phogat was honoured with garlands by the farmers.

The Haryana Assembly polls, slated to be held on October 5, are gearing up to be a heated affair with multiple factors at play. Anti-incumbency sentiments, farmers' protests, wrestlers' protests, government employees' discontent, and the dynamics of the Jat community are expected to play pivotal roles in the crucial elections.