Page 13 - Haryana Election

Vinesh shouldn't have joined politics now, aimed for gold in 2028: Mahavir

Olympian Vinesh Phogat's uncle and celebrated wrestling coach Mahavir Phogat said her niece should not have joined politics at this stage and aimed for an Olympic gold in 2028, days after the Congress fielded her from Julana for the October 5 Haryana assembly polls. Mahavir, whose Olympian daughter Babita Phogat joined the BJP ahead of the 2019 assembly elections, exuded confidence that the party will retain power in Haryana for a third time in a row. Babita, a Commonwealth Games medal-winner freestyle wrestler who inspired the Bollywood film 'Dangal', contested the 2019 polls unsuccessfully from Dadri. Asked about Vinesh taking the political plunge by joining the Congress, Mahavir, a Dronacharya awardee, told PTI over phone that "it is her decision...these days children take their own decisions." He also claimed that when he spoke with Vinesh recently she had no intentions of joining politics. Vinesh and Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia, who were at the forefront of the wrestlers'

Haryana polls: No alliance with Congress; AAP issues new list of candidates

Haryana polls: The Congress-AAP alliance seems to have collapsed as AAP released its second candidate list for Haryana on Tuesday and said that it will contest all 90 seats to challenge the BJP

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Sad that sports has been politicised: Rajyavardhan on Vinesh joining Cong

I feel that in Olympics, wrestling is such sport, in which so many athletes take part and we get so many medals, this time more medals could have come if such atmosphere was not created, Rathore said

Haryana polls: BJP warns Brij Bhushan against commenting on Vinesh Phogat

The BJP has warned Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh against commenting on Vinesh Phogat and her Congress candidacy, after Singh made controversial remarks about her and Bajrang Punia

Haryana polls: AAP releases candidate-list after talks with Congress fail

Haryana Assembly elections: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of 20 candidates after talks with Congress over seat-sharing failed

Haryana polls: Congress releases new list of candidates. Check key players

The Congress announced nine new candidates for Haryana's Assembly elections, covering a total of 41 seats so far. The party is also holding talks with the AAP to secure an alliance against the BJP

Days after joining Cong, Bajrang Punia gets threat message; probe underway

Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia, who joined the Congress, has received a threat message over WhatsApp warning him with dire consequences, police said on Sunday. Punia has filed a complaint at Bahalgarh police station in Sonipat. A police official said they received a complaint from Punia after which they launched an investigation. When asked that some reports say that in the threat message Punia was asked to quit Congress or be prepared to face dire consequences, Bahalgarh police station SHO Madan Singh said over the phone, "The matter is under investigation..." Olympians Punia and Vinesh Phogat entered the political arena on Friday by joining the Congress. The party later fielded Phogat from Julana seat for the Haryana Assembly polls while Punia was appointed as working chairman of All India Kisan Congress. Punia won bronze in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Polling for 90 seats in Haryana will be held on October 5 and the votes counted on October 8.

Haryana polls: No final decision yet on AAP-Congress alliance, say sources

The Congress and AAP have finalised a seat-sharing arrangement for the October 5 Haryana Assembly polls with the latter agreeing to contest on five seats, party sources said on Sunday. Sources in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the alliance might be forged on Monday. "Talks between Congress' Deepak Babaria and AAP leader Raghav Chadha have been progressing in a positive direction. There are chances that the alliance might be finalised by tomorrow. AAP has agreed on contesting five seats in the state," said an AAP source. Earlier in the day, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said both Congress and his party are trying to forge an alliance for the Haryana elections by keeping aside their individual aspirations. Chadha said while the parties are yet to reach a consensus on the alliance, the talks are progressing in a "positive" direction and they are hopeful of a good outcome. He, however, added that the AAP will not proceed with the alliance "if there is no win-win situation". "The t

Hoodas used wrestlers like Pandavas put Draupadi at stake: Former WFI chief

Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Sunday accused the Hooda family of Congress of conspiring against him by using wrestlers as wager just as Pandavas had put Draupadi at stake. Singh, a former chief of Wrestling Federation of India, was last year accused of sexual assault by several female wrestlers, who sat on a protest for weeks demanding a probe against him. At his residence on Sunday, he told reporters, "In the gambling which took place in Mahabharat, Draupadi was put at stake. The Pandavas lost. The country is still not able to accept their reasons for doing it." He added, "The Hooda family put the honour of daughters and sisters at stake. The future generation will not forgive them for this and they will always be held guilty for this." Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who is an Olympic bronze-medallist, along with another Olympic bronze-winner Sakshi Malik spearheaded the agitation last year. Singh said, "Bajrang Punia's mental condition has deteriorated. He had pu

Haryana polls: Cong, AAP to set aside individual aspirations, says Chadha

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Sunday said both Congress and his party are trying to forge an alliance for the Haryana elections by keeping aside their individual aspirations. Chadha said while the parties are yet to reach a consensus on the alliance, the talks are progressing in a "positive" direction and they are hopeful of a good outcome. He, however, added that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not proceed with the alliance "if there is no win-win situation". "The talks are happening in a positive atmosphere. Both parties are working towards contesting the elections together, prioritizing unity and the demands of the people of Haryana, while setting aside individual party and candidate aspirations," he told PTI Videos. "Ball by ball commentary cannot be done on the seat-sharing arrangement. Both the parties have desire and hope to form an alliance," he added. Polling in Haryana to the 90-member assembly will take place on October 5. The last date to file nominations is Septe

Sunita Kejriwal hails Delhi CM as 'Haryana ka laal', says 'won't bow down'

Sunita Kejriwal accused the BJP government in Haryana of lack of action for the people of the state in 10 years and urged the voters to caste their votes in favour of AAP to build 'a new Haryana'

Those underestimating us will regret it: AAP amid impasse in alliance talks

Amid uncertainty over an alliance with the Congress for the assembly polls in Haryana, AAP on Saturday warned that those who "underestimate" the party would "regret" it. AAP national secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said during a press conference that the party was ready to contest from all 90 seats in the Haryana elections with full force. "We are fully prepared and waiting for the party's order. As soon as we get the 'go' word, we will announce everything. We are prepared to fight the elections with full force on all the seats and those who underestimate us will themselves regret it in the future," Pathak said. Alliance talks between AAP and the Congress have hit an impasse over seat sharing. AAP has demanded 10 seats while the Congress is offering five to seven, insiders have said. Haryana goes to the polls on October 5. The last date to file nominations is September 12. Earlier in the day, AAP chief national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said talks were underway and ...

Haryana polls: Congress releases 1st list, fields Vinesh Phogat from Julana

Haryana Assembly elections: Congress announced its first list of 31 candidates and has fielded Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency

Why cricketers, sportspersons rarely succeed in politics unlike film stars

It isn't just the Congress fielding sportspersons for the forthcoming Haryana Assembly polls. The BJP has fielded Deepak Hooda, former captain of India's national kabaddi team, from Maham Assembly sea

For jobs, schools, hospitals in Haryana, press jharoo button on Oct 5: Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday told the people of Haryana that if they want good education, jobs and hospitals, they should vote for the AAP in the upcoming Assembly elections. On October 5, the people of Haryana are ready to write a new story, Mann said while addressing public meetings in Kalayat and Jakhal in the Kaithal and Fatehabad districts, respectively. "If you want good schools, good education, good hospitals, jobs... then press 'jharoo' (AAP's poll symbol)," he said. The 90-member Haryana Assembly is set to go to polls on October 5. The counting of votes will take place on October 8. The Congress on Thursday engaged in hectic consultations to explore the possibility of an alliance with AAP for the Haryana Assembly polls, even as some of its leaders expressed reservations over such a tie-up with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. Addressing the gatherings, Mann claimed, "BJP was on way out in Haryana. Where is development? Corruption and unemployment are at pea

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia join Congress ahead of Haryana elections

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia will join Congress on Friday, and may announce their possible entry in the Assembly elections. Phogat might contest from Julana and Punia from Badli

AAP may go solo in Haryana polls as alliance talks with Cong hit roadblock

The alliance talks over seat sharing between the Congress and the AAP for the Haryana Assembly polls have hit a roadblock, and the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is planning to contest 50 seats in the state, sources claimed on Friday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to issue its first list of candidates on Sunday, sources in the AAP claimed just before a meeting of the Congress' central election committee. "The alliance talks are on the verge of collapse in Haryana and the AAP is planning to contest 50 of the 90 assembly seats in the state on its own," sources in the AAP claimed. Earlier, the party insiders had said that the AAP was demanding 10 assembly seats in Haryana whereas the Congress was offering five to seven seats. Sources said no consensus was in sight over seat sharing. The AAP and the Congress, partners in the Indian Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), contested the recent Lok Sabha polls in Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi together. In Haryana, the AAP was given the

From wrestling mat to politics, Bajrang Punia gears up for new 'dangal'

Bajrang Punia had once stated that it didn't really matter who was supporting him because as long as his mind was trained to feel undefeated, nothing really could beat him. If the unfazed manner in which he has moved from the wrestling mat to the political cauldron is any indication, this statement seems to have been the guiding principle of his life. Bajrang, a Tokyo Olympics bronze-medallist and among the most decorated names in Indian wrestling, is now set to grapple on the political turf, having joined the Congress party a month before the assembly elections in Haryana amid talk that he would be among the contestants. His name will be among the foremost in the annals of Indian wrestling heavyweights, whose career witnessed several highs on the mat but also turmoil off it. He was the first Indian to be ranked world no.1 in a freestyle weight category and also the first to win four world medals. The 30-year-old Bajrang hasn't officially said that he is giving up the sport but the

Haryana elections: Revolt in BJP; Cong-AAP hold alliance talks. Top updates

The Haryana Assembly elections on October 5 are heated, with BJP facing internal revolt and Congress trying to form an alliance with AAP. Here are the latest updates on Haryana polls