NEW DELHI: Haryana BJP President Mohan Lal Badoli addressed the recent decision by wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia to join the Congress party. On Saturday, Badoli remarked that athletes are a source of national pride and emphasized that the BJP does not engage in political maneuvering involving them.

"Players are the pride of our country, and we do not use them for political purposes. They will contribute as Congress members now," Badoli said.

Regarding the upcoming Haryana assembly elections, Badoli revealed that the BJP will soon announce its candidate list for the remaining 23 seats. He noted that the central election committee will meet in the next two days to finalize the list.

The Congress party gained a significant boost when Olympic wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat joined on Friday. Bajrang Punia has been appointed as the working president of the All India Kisan Congress, and Vinesh Phogat is set to contest from the Julana constituency. Their induction into the party was marked by the presence of several key Congress leaders, including general secretary KC Venugopal and AICC in charge of Haryana Deepak Babaria.

This move comes just weeks before the Haryana assembly elections, scheduled for October 5. The deadline for filing nominations is September 12, with vote counting slated for October 8. Bajrang Punia, a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, and Vinesh Phogat, who reached the Olympic final in Paris, bring high-profile recognition to the Congress party. Phogat recently retired from wrestling following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics due to a minor weight discrepancy.

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