New Delhi: In the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections, three notable athletes took a leap into the political arena. Wrestlers Babita Phogat and Yogeshwar Dutt, alongside hockey player Sandeep Singh, all contested the elections under the BJP banner.While Babita Phogat and Yogeshwar Dutt faced defeat, Sandeep Singh emerged victorious, securing his place in the assembly. However, Sandeep Singhs political journey hit a roadblock when he was embroiled in a serious controversy. A junior athletics coach accused him of molestation, leading to his resignation from the position of Sports Minister. Despite the controversy, Sandeep Singh remains active in politics, though it remains to be seen whether he will receive a BJP ticket again.Athletes involved in politicsAs the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections approach, speculation is rising about which sportspersons will join the political fray. On Wednesday, renowned wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia met with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, sparking rumors that Vinesh Phogat might be included in the list of Congress candidates. The Congress party is expected to release its candidate list soon, with voting set for October 5 and the counting of votes on October 8.नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi से विनेश फोगाट जी और बजरंग पुनिया जी ने मुलाकात की। pic.twitter.com/UK7HW6kLEL— Congress (@INCIndia) September 4, 2024In the 2019 elections, Babita Phogat contested from the Dadri assembly seat but was defeated by independent candidate Somveer Sangwan. Undeterred, Babita is reportedly preparing to contest from the same seat this time. Similarly, Yogeshwar Dutt, who faced defeat in Baroda, has expressed his desire to contest from the Gohana seat under the BJP banner.With several sportspersons aiming to make their mark in the upcoming elections, Haryanas political landscape is poised for an exciting contest.
