Vinesh Phogat Gets Haryana Poll Ticket Hours After Joining Congress

Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been given a ticket to contest Haryana polls from Julana on a Congress ticket, marking a new beginning in the life of the famous sportstar, as the party released a list of 31 names for the polls.

Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will contest from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi and state unit chief Udai Bhan from Hodal.

The Congress has fielded Mewa Singh from Ladwa to take on Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Surender Panwar will contest from Sonipat, Bharat Bhushan Batra from Rohtak, Kuldeep Vats from Badli, Chiranjeev Rao from Revari and Neeraj Sharma from Faridabad NIT.

Earlier today, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who were at the forefront of the wrestlers' protest against then WFI chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, joined the Congress with a vow of "not being scared or backing off".

"I thank the people of the country and the media, you supported me throughout my wrestling journey. I thank the Congress party, it is said tough times tell you about who is with you. When we were dragged on the roads, all parties except the BJP stood with us and understood our pain and tears," said the 30-year-old ex wrestler, whose father was shot dead when she was nine years old.

Ms Phogat said she felt proud that she was with a party and an ideology that stood against injustice on women and was ready to fight the battle from the streets to Parliament.

"I am starting a new innings. I want sportspersons don't have to face what we had to go through," said Ms Phogat, adding that her move might inspire them.

The Congress is in seat-sharing talks with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the 90 seats in Haryana. There is hard bargaining going on from both sides.