Ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, Olympians Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress party on Friday in the presence of party’s general secretary KC Venugopal, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan and AICC in-charge of Haryana, Deepak Babaria. Speaking during the occasion, Vinesh Phogat said the country has supported her in her journey and she is grateful to all.
The two wrestlers, who joined the party at the Congress headquarters, are from the Jat community. A significant number of Haryana’s farmers are Jats and the community has been up in arms against the BJP over the demand for a legal guarantee of a Minimum Support Price (MSP).
On Wednesday, the two Olympians met the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. A source said consensus had emerged within the party about Phogat’s candidature. By bringing Phogat and Punia on board, the party is looking to expand its support base among women, sportspersons, and the youth, apart from consolidating Jat votes.
On joining Congress, Vinesh Phogat said, “I thank Congress party…Kehte hain na ki bure time mein pata lagta hai ki apna kaun hai…When we were being dragged on the road, all parties except BJP were with us. I feel proud that I have joined a party which stands with women and is ready to fight from ‘sadak to sansad’…”
Earlier in the day, Phogat and Punia met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior leaders at his 10 Rajaji Marg. “Both Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat are joining the party. Whether one of them will contest or both would contest would become clear soon,” a party source said. The Congress is reportedly considering the Julana and Badli seats – both with a significant Jat population – for Phogat.
Also, Phogat on Friday resigned from the Indian Railways citing personal reasons. Punia is a Tokyo Games bronze medallist, while Phogat became the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final, the stage where she was disqualified after being found over weight by about 100 gm in her 50-kg category weigh-in.