Vinesh Phogat, Babita Phogat, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia and Sandeep Singh
Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat will also try their luck in the Haryana election arena. Both have decided to enter politics through Congress. The entry of sportsmen in Haryana politics is not new. Chaudhary Virender Singh first entered politics from sports in the 1970s. Chaudhary also became an MLA, MP and a minister at the Centre.
However, after this many players also came into Haryana politics, whose politics could not take off. There were some of them who became hit wickets as soon as they entered the field.
In this special story, let’s know the story of those players from Haryana who came from sports to politics…
First let’s talk about Dangal girl Babita Phogat.
Female wrestler Babita Phogat has won a medal at the Commonwealth Games. In 2019, he decided to enter politics. Babita joined the BJP and contested from the Dadri seat, but suffered a crushing defeat here. Babita stood third in this election.
Even after this, Babita remained active in politics. He openly supported the party on many issues. Babita was hoping to get ticket again from Dadri seat in 2024 elections but BJP did not field her.
After 2 days of not getting the ticket, Babita has broken her silence. He has said that he will stick to the party’s decision.
Even Yogeshwar Dutt did not get a ticket
Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt also entered politics in 2019 through BJP. In 2019, the party fielded him from Baroda seat but he could not win. After the death of the MLA in 2020, a by-election was held from this seat. Dutt could not even win the by-election.
This time BJP has not given ticket to Yogeshwar who won a medal in Olympics. Yogeshwar Dutt is upset about not getting the ticket. There is also a debate going on in political circles that Yogeshwar will stay in politics or not.
Krishnamurthy Hooda also joined politics
Former cricketer Krishnamurthy Hooda’s politics also gained popularity initially, but gradually he started moving away from politics. Krishnamurthy Hooda, who entered politics through the Congress, initially became an MLA and minister, but when the Congress fell out of power, Hooda too was sidelined.
In February 2024, Krishnamurthy left the Congress and joined the BJP. He opened a front against Bhupinder Hooda in the Lok Sabha elections. It was being said that Krishnamurthy Bhupinder Hooda will contest assembly elections from Garhi Sampla, the stronghold, but BJP did not even give him a symbol.
Sandeep first became a minister and then sought a ticket.
In 2019, hockey player Sandeep Singh, who made his political debut with Yogeshwar Dutt and Babita Phogat, was made a minister in the Manohar Lal Khattar government, but sexual harassment allegations ended his career.
Earlier, Sandeep did not get a ministerial post in the Saini government and now the BJP has canceled the MLA ticket. Hockey player Sandeep is also an Arjuna Award winner.
Even Ranveer Mahendra is not successful on the political pitch
Former Chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Ranbir Mahendra entered Haryana politics in 2005. At that time he won the election from Mundhal Khurd seat but after that he kept losing the election continuously.
In 2009, 2014 and 2019, he contested elections from Bhadra seat on Congress ticket but lost all the three times. There are doubts about 80-year-old Ranbir Mahendra’s contesting this time.
Vijendra came to Delhi and then returned to Haryana
Boxer Vijendra Singh has also tried his luck in politics. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Vijendra contested on a Congress ticket from South Delhi, but finished third. His security deposit was also confiscated during the election.
In 2024, after not getting ticket from Congress, Vijendra joined BJP and became active in Haryana politics. However, no announcement has been made to give him a ticket in the first list of BJP.
Now the story of Vinesh and Bajrang is gone
Vinesh has won a medal in the Commonwealth Games. This time Vinesh Phogat reached the final at the Paris Olympics but dropped out of the race due to weight. Vinesh Charkhi hails from Dadri and is rumored to be contesting from a seat in Jatland.
Similarly, there is talk that Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia will also contest from Jatland. Bajrang and Vinesh recently met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
