Vinesh Phogat Joining Congress? Here's What Party Leader Said On Wrestler Contesting Haryana Polls

Congress leader Deepak Babaria was speaking at a media briefing after a meeting of Congress leaders in Haryana in view of Haryana elections.

File photo of Vinesh Phogat and Deepak Babaria.

Source : PTI

Amid speculations of wrestler Vinesh Phogat entering politics to contest the Haryana Assembly elections, a Congress leader has reacted on whether the athlete will join the grand-old party.

Congress leader Deepak Babaria said if Vinesh Phogat wants to contest, we will certainly accommodate.

"I don't know if she (Vinesh Phogat) has been approached by any of our leaders but if she wants to contest (assembly elections), we welcome her and we will certainly accommodate her," Babaria said. 

The reaction of the Congress leader comes amid reports of Vinesh Phogat considering running for the upcoming Haryana elections.

A report in IANS quoting sources close to the wrestler suggested that the upcoming polls could see a notable wrestling face-off, stating, "It’s likely that in the Haryana assembly elections, you will see Vinesh Phogat vs Babita Phogat and Bajrang Punia vs Yogeshwar Dutt." 

However, the questions regarding which political party Phogat may align to remains unanswered.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Deepak Babaria said that during the meeting on Wednesday, the party leaders discussed ticket distribution.

"The day before yesterday we had a meeting where the chairman of the screening committee Ajay Makan, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were also present... It was also discussed that those who have any anti-party activities, their names will also be brought into the light before the screening committee. The day after tomorrow, we will have a third meeting," the Congres leader said.

The process of selection of candidates is expected to begin within the next few days.

The Election Commission last week announced that polls to the 90-member Haryana assembly will be held on October 1 and the results declared on October 4.

With the announcement of polls, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Haryana, which is currently ruled by the BJP. The Congress is looking to unseat the BJP and return to power after 10 years in the opposition.