New Delhi: In yet another political U-turn, Vijender Singh, India's first Olympic medallist in boxing, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday after quitting as a Congress leader.
Singh's name was doings the rounds for the last few days as the Congress' nominee from Mathura, from where actor and incumbent MP Hema Malini is contesting again. He had fought the 2019 Lok Sabha election unsuccessfully from the South Delhi constituency as a Congress candidate.
“It’s a gharwapsi (homecoming) for me after five years as I had contested the poll in 2019,” he said, adding “he is inspired by the honour given by the BJP government to the players”.
The boxer joined the BJP in the presence of the party's national General Secretary Vinod Tawde. Last week, the boxer in a post on X, wrote, “Wherever the public wants, I am ready.”
Singh walked with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after joining the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' first in Khargone in Madhya Pradesh and later in Haryana’s Karnal district. In Madhya Pradesh, the two were seen talking to each other and also twirling their moustaches -- a nod to the boxer's native Haryanvi style -- in a video shared by the Congress Twitter handle.
After the foot march in Haryana, Vijender Singh and the Congress shared photos of the Yatra. “Haryanvi Ha Dabya Koni Karde,” tweeted the boxer in the local language along with a photo, which also had Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's pet dog 'Luna' in the frame.
“Ek punch nafrat ke khilaaf (A punch against hatred),” the Congress had written and the post was re-tweeted by Vijender Singh where both Rahul Gandhi and him were seen posing with fists for the camera.
Hailing from the dominating Jat community in Haryana, Vijender Singh's move may have political ramifications in regions like western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as well. He belongs to Bhiwani district in Haryana and had fought the last Lok Sabha election from South Delhi and stood third. He has two silvers and one bronze in the Commonwealth Games.
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