Weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, boxer Vijender Singh announced his association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dealing another blow to the Congress. The Olympian had joined the Congress in 2019 and had faced off against BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri in the general elections, losing badly.
According to sources, the Congress intended to field the 38-year-old against BJP MP Hema Malini, who has been re-nominated for the Mathura seat. His defection to the BJP is likely to help the party gain votes from the Jat group, which is especially crucial in Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. The boxer is anticipated to campaign heavily for the BJP in these two locations.
The first Indian boxer Mr Singh became to win an Olympic medal, a bronze, at the 2008 Beijing Games. He also won silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2014, as well as bronze medals in the 2010 games and the 2009 World Championships.
On Wednesday, the boxer joined the BJP in the presence of party General Secretary Vinod Tawde, saying in Hindi, “This is like a ghar wapsi (homecoming) for me.” I ran in the 2019 elections. It’s fantastic to be back. It is good that athletes are increasingly receiving respect both domestically and internationally. When we used to travel abroad to fight, such as to the United Kingdom and Dubai, various things would happen at the airports. But since the BJP and the (Narendra) Modi administration took office, we have been able to travel freely.”
I want to thank the BJP and Prime Minister Modi for the respect that athletes are accorded under this government. I’d like to be a part of this government, helping people and guiding them in the correct direction. “I am the same Vijender I was, and I will call a spade a spade,” he said.
Sakshi Malik called it a “black day in the history of sports” when she announced her retirement from wrestling following a close aide of the BJP MP’s victory in the subsequent WFI elections. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia have been backed by Vijender Singh in their demonstration against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan singh over claims made last year of sexual harassment.
He had also questioned Indian cricket players’ lack of response to the controversy.
After switching, Mr. Singh told news agency PTI that he had made a “well thought out decision” after getting in touch with the BJP via a mutual friend.
“The BJP was friendly when I contacted them via a mutual friend. The amount of work the federal government has done to support athletes over the past ten years has impressed me. And I reasoned, why not? I believe I can help further the cause, particularly for Haryana-born athletes. I want to contribute to improving things since, after all, this is my home,” he remarked.
