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CHANDIGARH: Olympic Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Wednesday met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Delhi amid speculation about their potential entry into the political arena. Sources indicate that the duo might join the Congress party and could be fielded as candidates in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.
Phogat is reportedly being considered for the Julana seat in Jind or the Charkhi Dadri constituency, while Punia might contest from Badli in Jhajjar district, despite the current Congress MLA from the constituency. The meeting between Gandhi and the wrestlers took place before his departure to Kashmir for the assembly election campaign.
Amarjeet Dhanda of the Jannayak Janta Party is the sitting MLA from Julana.
AICC General Secretary in charge of Haryana, Deepak Babaria, mentioned that a decision regarding the wrestlers' candidacy would be made within the next couple of days. The Congress has already cleared 66 out of 90 candidates for the elections scheduled on October 5.
Both Phogat and Punia were prominent figures in last year’s agitation over sexual exploitation charges, demanding the removal of the then Wrestling Federation of India chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
It is learnt that by roping in both these high-profile wrestlers and sports personalities, the grand old party wants to strengthen its position among voters in the Jat-dominated state.
Phogat has been an advocate for farmers' demands, particularly regarding legal guarantees for MSP, and recently met with farmers at the Shambhu border, where she referred to herself as "their daughter."
