Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Puniya meet the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi amid all the speculation that they are likely to contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections for the Congress.
The meeting photo was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter from the Congress social media account.
According to reports, both the wrestlers will also meet K.C. Venugopal, the party’s general secretary in charge of the organisation.
“An announcement on their candidature is likely soon,” confirmed a source.
The moment Phogat has returned to India after the Paris Olympics she has been meeting senior congress leaders, regularly.
Phogat first met Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, when the political leader welcomed her at IGI Airport with a ‘Hanuman Gada’, a symbol of victory. Hooda has first-handily supported the agitation held by Phogat and other senior wrestlers against the then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan over the allegation of sexual abuse.
Phogat in all this had also met former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Sigh Hooda, who had at the moment said that Congress welcomes everyone who wants to join the party.
Phogat and Puniya were key faces in the protest against WFI chief and BJP MP Bhushan in 2023.
Phogat’s candidature was further confirmed by AICC in-charge for Haryana Deepak Babaria, who said “It will soon become clear if Phogat is contesting the Haryana Assembly elections.”
The statement came after the Congress Central Election Committee meeting held in Delhi on Monday.
The party leaders also mentioned that they have discussed the prospect of the two wrestlers contesting the polls and that the conversation is still ongoing.
“There are some aspects that need to be ironed out. The talks are happening and everyone will not know if the two will contest elections or not,” a Congress leader who didn’t want to be named said on Wednesday.
The Haryana assembly election will take place on October 5.
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