Bajrang Punia Appointed Working Chairman Of Congress’s Farmers Wing Ahead Of Haryana Polls

Olympic bronze-medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia has been appointed as the Working Chairman of the All India Kisan Congress, the farmers’ wing of the Congress party.

The appointment was confirmed in an official statement issued by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, which said, “Hon’ble Congress President has approved the proposal of the appointment of Shri Bajrang Punia as the Working Chairman of All India Kisan Congress, with immediate effect.”

This move comes shortly after Bajrang Punia and fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat joined the Congress ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections scheduled for October.

Both wrestlers met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi before their induction into the party was publicly announced.

Although there was speculation that Punia might contest in the Haryana elections, it has now been clarified that he will not run for a seat. On the other hand, Vinesh Phogat is expected to contest from the Julana Assembly segment on a Congress ticket.

With Phogat and Punia’s entry, the Congress aims to boost its support base, particularly among Jat voters, and leverage anti-incumbency sentiments in Haryana.

Both wrestlers were at the forefront of protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom they accused of harassing young female wrestlers.

The Haryana Assembly elections will take place on October 5, with the results declared on October 8.