Wrestlers Vinesh, Bajrang join Congress

In a significant political development, Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Indian National Congress on Friday, just weeks before the Haryana Assembly elections scheduled for October 5.

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The move is expected to shake up the political landscape in the northern state, where both athletes have a considerable following.

Phogat and Punia, both 30 years old, met with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence before formally joining the party at its headquarters in New Delhi.

The induction ceremony was attended by several senior Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, general secretary in-charge of the organisation, Deepak Babaria, AICC general secretary in-charge of Haryana, and Pawan Khera, head of the party's media and publicity department.

Key Points

• Party has fielded Mewa Singh from Ladwa to challenge incumbent Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini

• Vinesh Phogat resigns from Indian Railways

• The party has also fielded Surender Panwar from Sonipat, Bharat Bhushan Batra from Rohtak, Kuldeep Vats from Badli