Haryana Assembly Elections 2024: Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia meet Rahul Gandhi amid speculations over entering poll fray

The Congress has remained tightlipped about whether Punia and Phogat could be fielded with AICC general secretary in-charge Haryana Deepak Babaria saying on Tuesday that there will be clarity on it by Thursday.

New Delhi: Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat met top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi here on Wednesday, amid indications that both the grapplers will be fielded in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.

Sources indicated that Punia may be fielded from Badli while Phogat is likely to contest the Julana seat. So far, the Congress has not spelt out its plans for the two wrestlers with party managers saying a decision is likely only by Thursday.

However, the Congress itself publicising the meeting with Rahul by posting a photograph of the two wrestlers with the top leader on ‘X’ indicated that a decision has been arrived at.

It is to be seen whether Congress will field both the wrestlers or settle for one of them.

Both Punia (30) and Phogat (30) were part of the wrestlers’ protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and the then Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh last year.

Congress has been contemplating fielding the wrestlers in the elections for some time and there was speculation of the party fielding them in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

When Phogat returned from the Paris Olympics, it was senior Congress MP Deepender Hooda who arranged the welcome ceremony at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and the march to her village in Haryana.

Last week, she was also seen at a meeting of protesting farmers in Haryana.

If Punia is fielded in Badli, Congress will have to bench its sitting MLA Kuldeep Vats. In the Congress Central Election Committee, a decision on Badli remained pending.

Julana, where Phogat may contest from, was held by JJP’s Amarjeet Dhanda who resigned from the party.