Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat Meet Rahul Gandhi Amid Buzz Over Entering Poll Fray From Haryana

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday amid speculation that the two-star grapplers could be fielded in the Haryana Assembly polls by the party.

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.

The Congress has put out a photograph of Gandhi with Phogat and Punia on its official X handle.

Punia and Phogat were part of the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Congress’ central election committee cleared the names of 66 candidates for the 90-member state Assembly till Tuesday. The Congress’ candidates list is set to be out in a day or two for the remaining candidates.

Voting for the 90-member Assembly in Haryana will be held on October 5 and counting of votes will be undertaken on October 8.

Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat Joining Congress?

Responding to the speculations of Phogat and Punia joining Congress and fighting the upcoming Haryana polls, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of Haryana Deepak Babaria on Tuesday stated that no discussion on either Vinesh or Bajrang’s candidature was done in the meeting.

“Vinesh Phogat’s or Bajrang Punia’s names are not among them. I think, there will be clarity over this by the day after tomorrow,” said Babaria when asked if the names of Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are among the 32 candidates that have been finalised earlier.