On Wednesday, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia met with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and prominent Congress leader, in a move that has intensified speculation about Phogat’s potential bid for the Haryana Assembly elections.
The meeting occurred shortly after the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) concluded its discussions on candidate selections for the 5 October elections.
Reports suggest that the Congress is considering offering Vinesh Phogat a ticket for either the Charkhi Dadri or Julana constituency.
The CEC has reportedly shortlisted 59 candidates, including 27 of the party’s current legislators.
However, the final list will not be announced until 4 September, according to Deepak Babaria, the AICC in-charge for Haryana.
Babaria also noted that Phogat’s or Punia’s candidacies were not discussed during the recent meeting.
Meanwhile, the ongoing negotiations for a pre-poll alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are creating additional tension. AAP is seeking at least 10 seats, but Congress has only offered seven.
The BJP has criticized the potential alliance, suggesting it is a sign of desperation from the weaker party.
After returning to India following a disqualification that prevented her from winning an Olympic medal in Paris, Vinesh Phogat has actively engaged with Congress leaders.
Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda was among the first to welcome her at IGI Airport, and Phogat subsequently met with Hooda and his father, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, at their residence in Delhi on 23 August.
Phogat also participated in a farmers’ protest at the Shambhu site on the Punjab-Haryana border on 31 August.
When asked about her potential run in the Haryana elections, she remained non-committal, stating, “I will not talk about politics. I have come to meet my family.”
With over 2,500 individuals expressing interest in party tickets, the Congress is in the final stages of candidate selection. Haryana’s Assembly elections are slated for 5 October, with vote counting scheduled for 8 October.
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