Wed Sep 11 17:15:24 UTC 2024: ## Wrestling Champion Vinesh Phogat Enters Politics, Sparking Family Feud

**Julana, Haryana:** Renowned wrestler Vinesh Phogat has officially entered the political arena, filing her nomination as the Congress candidate for the Julana Assembly Constituency in the upcoming Haryana elections. The move has sparked controversy, with Phogat’s own family expressing disapproval.

Phogat, who recently announced her retirement from wrestling, filed her nomination papers on Thursday in the presence of Congress MP Deepender S Hooda. “It is a matter of good fortune for me that I am entering politics. We are working hard for the welfare of every section. I am grateful for the love the people of Julana are giving me,” she stated, expressing confidence in her victory.

Phogat’s foray into politics comes after a tumultuous period in her wrestling career, marked by her disqualification from a recent major competition and subsequent retirement. Her joining the Congress party on September 6, alongside fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia, further fueled tensions within her family.

Babita Phogat, Vinesh’s cousin and a BJP leader, has accused senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda of causing a rift in the Phogat family. Babita criticized Vinesh’s decision to join the Congress, calling it hasty and claiming that Hooda had divided their family. She further urged Vinesh to have sought counsel from their father, Mahavir Phogat, a respected figure in the family and Vinesh’s wrestling mentor.

The Haryana Assembly elections will be held on October 5, 2024, with the entire state’s 90 seats up for grabs in a single phase. The deadline for filing nominations is September 12, and the vote counting will take place on October 8, 2024.

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