New Delhi, September 4, 2024 – Indian wrestling stars Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia met with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, sparking speculation about their possible involvement in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. The meeting, which took place just weeks before the October 5 election, has fueled rumors that the two athletes may be considering a foray into politics under the Congress banner.
The meeting was reported by news agency ANI, which cited sources suggesting that Phogat and Punia might be offered Congress tickets to contest the Haryana elections. If true, this would mark a significant shift for the wrestlers, who are both renowned for their achievements on the global sports stage.
In addition to meeting Rahul Gandhi, the duo also held discussions with Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal in New Delhi. This follows Phogat’s earlier meeting with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who expressed the Congress party’s openness to new members joining their ranks.
Phogat, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, faced disappointment after being disqualified from a gold medal bout due to being overweight. Despite this setback, she remains a prominent figure, both in the sporting world and as a supporter of farmers’ rights. Phogat joined the farmers’ protest at the Shambhu border on August 31, marking the 200th day of their demand for a legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
When asked about her potential candidacy in the Haryana elections, Phogat downplayed the speculation, stating, “I don’t want to talk about it. My focus shouldn’t be on me, but on the farming community. I am a sportsperson and a citizen of India; elections are not my concern. My only focus is on the welfare of farmers.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming for a third consecutive term in Haryana, while the Congress seeks to reclaim power from the ruling party. The Election Commission of India recently rescheduled the Haryana assembly election, moving the polling date to October 5 from the previously planned October 1.
As the election date approaches, all eyes will be on Phogat and Punia to see if they take the plunge into politics, potentially bringing their influence and popularity from the wrestling arena to the political stage.
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