The Congress has granted Vinesh Phogat a ticket to run in the Haryana elections from Julana, signalling a fresh start for the well-known athlete whose disqualification from the Olympics devastated the nation.
The state unit chief Udai Bhan from Hodal and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi will run for office, according to the party, which also announced a list of 31 candidates.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini of Ladwa will compete against Congressman Mewa Singh.
Sonipat’s Surender Panwar, Rohtak’s Bharat Bhushan Batra, Badli’s Kuldeep Vats, Revari’s Chiranjeev Rao, and Faridabad NIT’s Neeraj Sharma are the candidates.
Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, the focal points of the wrestlers’ demonstration against the then-WFI chairman and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh’s alleged sexual abuse and intimidation, joined the Congress earlier today, promising to “not be scared or backing off.”
“I thank the people of the country and the media, you supported me throughout my wrestling journey. I thank the Congress party, it is said tough times tell you about who is with you. When we were dragged on the roads, all parties except the BJP stood with us and understood our pain and tears,” said the 30-year-old ex wrestler, who was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to make weight on the morning of her gold medal bout.
Having lost her father to gun violence when she was nine years old, Ms. Phogat expressed her pride in being a part of a party and an ideology that opposed discrimination against women and was prepared to fight the good fight all the way from the streets to Parliament.
“I am starting a new innings. I want sportspersons don’t have to face what we had to go through,” said Ms Phogat, adding that her move might inspire them.
In March of this year, Nayab Singh Saini took over as the state’s chief minister, succeeding Manohar Lal Khattar, who has led the BJP for ten years.
For the 90 seats in Haryana, the rival Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are negotiating seat sharing. Both sides are engaging in aggressive negotiating.
On October 5, there will be a single phase of voting in the state. On October 8, the votes will be tabulated.
