Congress fields Vinesh Phogat from Julana, Bajrang not on list
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who joined the Congress party on Friday, will contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly election from the Julana seat. The decision was finalized during a meeting of the Congress's Central Election Committee (CEC) earlier in the day. Bajrang Punia, who also joined the grand old party along with Phogat, has not been given a ticket to contest in these elections. However, has been appointed as the Working Chairman of the All India Kisan Congress.
Other candidates
The Congress has also fielded former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency. Surender Panwar has received a ticket from Sonipat, Jagbir Singh Malik from Gohana, and Bharat Bhushan Batra from Rohtak. The party has fielded Kuldeep Vata from Badli, Geeta Bhukkal from Jhajjar (reserved for SC), Chiranjeev Rao from Rewari, Aftab Ahmed from Nuh, and Neeraj Sharma from Faridabad NIT.
Check out the full list here
Phogat's political journey and commitment to athletes' rights
Both Phogat and Punia were at the forefront of the wrestlers' protest last year against then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Shortly after joining the Congress, Phogat criticized the BJP for its handling of the athletes' protest, stating that all political parties except the BJP supported them. "I could have quit wrestling at Jantar Mantar because the BJP's IT cell was publicizing that we were spent forces," she said.
Phogat criticizes BJP's handling of athletes' protest
Punia also stated that the Congress supported them during their difficult times. "We had written to all women BJP MPs to stand with us but they didn't come. We are paying the price for raising our voices for women but now we know that the BJP stands with atrocities against women at Jantar Mantar and all other parties stand with us," he said. Haryana will go to the polls on October 5.
