Vinesh Phogat To Contest From Julana As Congress Candidate, Bajrang Punia Gets Key Role In Farmers' Wing

Haryana Assembly Elections 2024: Vinesh Phogat has been nominated by Congress to contest the Haryana elections from Julana, marking a new chapter for the famous athlete after her Olympic disqualification deeply saddened the nation.

Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will run for election from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, and state unit chief Udai Bhan will run from Hodal, according to the party’s list of 31 candidates. Congress' Mewa Singh will compete against Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Ladwa.

Surender Panwar will run from Sonipat, Bharat Bhushan Batra from Rohtak, Kuldeep Vats from Badli, Chiranjeev Rao from Rewari, and Neeraj Sharma from Faridabad NIT.

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia Vow To Fight For Justice And Women's Rights

Earlier today, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who led the protest against alleged sexual exploitation and intimidation by former WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, joined Congress and vowed to "not be scared or back down."

"I thank the people of the country and the media for supporting me throughout my wrestling career. I also thank the Congress party. Tough times reveal who truly stands by you. When we faced struggles, all parties except the BJP supported us and understood our pain," said the 30-year-old former wrestler, who was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics for being overweight before her gold medal match.

Ms. Phogat, whose father was shot dead when she was nine, said she felt proud to be with a party and an ideology that fights against injustice towards women. She is ready to take this battle from the streets to Parliament.

"I'm beginning a new chapter. I hope that other athletes won't have to face the struggles we endured," said Ms. Phogat, expressing hope that her decision might inspire others.

The BJP, which has ruled the state for a decade, replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as Chief Minister in March this year.

The Congress is currently in seat-sharing discussions with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for Haryana's 90 seats, with both sides engaged in tough negotiations.

The state will hold elections in a single phase on October 5, with vote counting set for October 8.

Also Read: Rift In AAP-Congress Over Seat Sharing In Haryana; Will AAP Contest On Its Own?