Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat in RaGa camp, will join Congress today

CHANDIGARH: National wrestling stars Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat will join Congress on Friday. It is learned that the wrestling icons from India will take their formal membership with the party at 1:30 pm today. The big decision comes after the duo met Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi on September 4. It is indicated that one of them will be a candidate in the upcoming Haryana assembly elections.

Both Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat were part of the strong protest conducted to oust BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, from the helm of WFI. There were several allegations of sexual misconduct against Singh which forced the wrestlers to come en masse and protest. The protest served its purpose after Singh tendered resignation while the protest garnered international attention.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar alleged political entanglement of wrestlers with Congress behind the ‘orchestrated’ protest against Brij Bhushan. The Congress believes that the membership of the wrestlers will help them garner the maximum votes of the Jat community.

Amidst this, turmoil continues within the Haryana BJP camp after Power Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and Ratia MLA Laxman Napa resigned after BJP released the 67-member candidate list.

Minister of State Vishambar Singh Balmiki, former ministers Karan Dev Kamboj, Kavita Jain and MP Savitri Jindal revolted. The resigned Ranjit Singh announced he would contest as an independent in Rania. He was offered a seat by the BJP in Dabwali but rejected the proposal