Haryana Assembly polls: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia join Congress

PTC News Desk: In a major development ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, celebrated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have officially joined the Congress party. Both Olympians, who became the face of last year’s protests against the alleged sexual harassment and intimidation by former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh, met with Congress leaders to finalise their entry into politics.

The wrestlers, both 30, first met with Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Wednesday. On Friday, they furthered their political journey by meeting Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence, before formally joining the party at its headquarters in New Delhi. Kharge welcomed them with enthusiasm, stating on X (formerly Twitter): “Chak de India, Chak de Haryana! Met our talented champions Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who have made India proud on the global stage.”

Also Read: Kamala Harris predicted to be next US president by ‘election nostradamus who accurately forecasted 9 of the last 10 elections

In a significant move before joining the party, Vinesh Phogat resigned from her role as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with the Northern Railways, citing personal reasons. She shared a photograph of her resignation letter on social media, expressing her gratitude to the Indian Railways for the opportunity to serve.

She wrote, "Serving Indian Railways has been a memorable and proud chapter of my life. At this point, I have decided to part ways and submitted my resignation to the competent authorities."

Phogat's fame has only risen in recent weeks, particularly after her emotional disqualification in the final bout of the 50 kg freestyle wrestling event, where she missed out on at least a silver medal by exceeding the weight limit by just 100 grams. Her outstanding performance in defeating reigning Olympic gold medallist Yui Susaki of Japan had won her immense praise, though her subsequent disqualification left fans heartbroken.

With the Haryana elections approaching, the entry of these two athletes into politics is seen as a strategic move by Congress to appeal to sports enthusiasts and the youth of the state.

Farmers' Support

After her disqualification, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling, leaving many speculating about her future. Last week, she made headlines by visiting the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border to show solidarity with the farmers protesting for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops. At the protest, Phogat reaffirmed her support, addressing the farmers as their "daughter."

Speaking at the protest, Phogat said, "Today marks 200 days of your agitation. I pray that you receive what you rightfully deserve—justice. As your daughter, I stand with you. I also urge the government to listen to us, as we, too, are citizens of this country. Every time we raise our voices, it isn’t necessarily political. What the farmers are demanding is not unlawful; the government should hear them out."

Boost to Congress

Phogat’s entry into the Congress party is expected to give a significant boost to the party in Haryana, especially with her strong support base among farmers, who represent a crucial voting bloc in the state. With growing farmer discontent towards the ruling BJP, Congress hopes this will help it challenge the BJP, which has governed Haryana since 2014.

Additionally, both Phogat and fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia joining Congress could strengthen the party’s position in negotiations with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), an ally within the opposition alliance, INDIA. While both parties have agreed to form an alliance for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, a stalemate persists over seat-sharing. AAP is demanding 10 seats out of the 90 available, but Congress is willing to concede only five to seven. The influence of Punia and Phogat could give Congress leverage in these talks.

Congress, buoyed by its performance in this year's Lok Sabha elections where it won five out of 10 seats in Haryana, is hesitant to cede any Assembly constituencies. However, Rahul Gandhi has reportedly pushed for an alliance, arguing that it will prevent vote-splitting and give the opposition its best shot at defeating the BJP.

Internal and External Tensions

Congress has faced some internal challenges, delaying its announcement of candidates for the upcoming election. Meanwhile, the BJP is also grappling with internal dissent following its candidate announcements. Haryana’s Energy Minister, Ranjit Chautala, and MLA Lakshman Napa have both resigned from the BJP. Chautala has declared his intention to run as an independent, while Napa has stated that he will be joining Congress.

Ranjit Chautala, a key figure in the state’s politics, is the son of Chaudhary Devi Lal, one of Haryana’s most revered leaders who served twice as Chief Minister and as Deputy Prime Minister of India. His defection could have further implications for the upcoming electoral landscape in the state.

Also Read: ED conducts raids at relative of former RG Kar principal and two other locations in Bengal