Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia Join Congress Ahead of Haryana Assembly Polls

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are expected to join the Congress party ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections. They recently met with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Punia, a Tokyo Games bronze medallist, and Phogat, an Olympic finalist, previously protested against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are set to join the Congress party on Friday ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls, sources revealed on Wednesday.

Both athletes, who recently met with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, could potentially contest in the upcoming election. A photograph of their meeting was shared on the Congress' official X handle.

Notably, Punia, a Tokyo Games bronze medallist, and Phogat, the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final, have both advocated for justice in the sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023. The Congress and AAP are in the midst of seat-sharing negotiations for the state polls, which will see 90 seats up for grabs on October 5, with results announced on October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)