Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia Joins Congress (screen grab from x.com/INCIndia)

Ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined Congress today. Before joining the party, both of them met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in the national capital.

Their meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on September 4 has already raised speculations.

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Phogat and Punia were part of the protests by wrestlers in 2023 against then Lok Sabha MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom they accused of sexual assault and intimidation.

Ahead of joining the party, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) and MP KC Venugopal in the press conference told that leaders comes through movements,  Phogat and Punia are part of the biggest protests in the country.

Congress and Rahul Gandhi is happy about their joining in the party and Bajrang Punia in their discussions asked the grand old party for a platform where he can work for the farmers.

Bajrang Punia is a Tokyo Games bronze medallist, and Vinesh Phogat is the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final. But, ahead of the final, the two-time World Championships bronze medallist was disqualified for failing to meet her weight by a little over 100 gms.

Phogat is expected to contest from the Julana seat presently held by the Jannayak Janta Party’s Amarjeet Dhanda.

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The Haryana assembly elections will be held on October 5 and counting of votes will take place on October 8.