Haryana Assembly Elections: Prominent wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have officially joined the Congress party as the Haryana assembly elections approach. This move comes on the heels of Vinesh's recent retirement from wrestling following her disqualification at the Paris Olympics, and Bajrang’s leadership in protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
Vinesh Phogat, who had a notable career in wrestling, recently faced a setback when she was disqualified from the 50 kg gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics for being 100 grams overweight. Despite appealing for a joint silver medal, her request was denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Bajrang Punia, an Olympic bronze medalist, gained prominence for his role in leading protests against BJP leader and former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, who was accused of sexual exploitation and intimidation in 2023.
The Haryana assembly elections will see voters choosing from 90 seats on October 5, with results scheduled to be announced on October 8. The Congress party is also in discussions with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) about a potential seat-sharing arrangement, which may continue their alliance from the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.
In her political debut, Vinesh Phogat, who announced her retirement from wrestling on August 8, has been speculated to enter politics following her cousin Babita Phogat’s path, who is a BJP MLA. Vinesh was also seen supporting farmers protesting at the Shambhu border.
Additionally, Vinesh Phogat has resigned from her position with Indian Railways, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. She shared her decision in a post on social media, emphasizing her appreciation for her time with the railway service.
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