The transfer is predicted to assist the BJP consolidate votes from the Jat neighborhood.
New Delhi:
In one other jolt to the Congress weeks earlier than the Lok Sabha elections, boxer Vijender Singh has joined the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP).
The Olympian had joined the Congress in 2019 and unsuccessfully contested the overall elections from the South Delhi constituency, shedding to the BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri.
Sources mentioned the Congress had deliberate to discipline the 38-year-old towards BJP MP Hema Malini, who has been named as a candidate from the Mathura seat as soon as once more. His change to the BJP is predicted to assist the social gathering consolidate votes from the Jat neighborhood, which is particularly essential in Haryana and Western UP. The boxer is predicted to marketing campaign extensively for the BJP in these two areas.
Mr Singh was the primary Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal – a bronze – on the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He additionally received silver medals on the 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Video games and bronze medals on the 2010 version of the Video games in addition to the 2009 World Championships.
Becoming a member of the BJP within the presence of social gathering Normal Secretary Vinod Tawde on Wednesday, the boxer mentioned in Hindi, “This is sort of a ghar wapsi (homecoming) for me. I had contested the elections in 2019. It’s good to be again. The way in which sportspersons are getting respect within the nation and overseas now’s commendable. After we used to go overseas to struggle earlier, to the UK and Dubai, for example, sure issues would occur on the airports generally. However because the BJP and the (Narendra) Modi authorities got here to energy, we will go anyplace simply.”
“I wish to thank PM Modi and the BJP for the respect that sportspersons get below this authorities. I wish to be part of this authorities, assist individuals and present them the fitting path. I’m the identical Vijender that I used to be and can name a spade a spade,” he added.
Vijender Singh had backed wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia of their protest towards BJP MP after which Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations final yr. When Sakshi Malik had introduced her retirement from wrestling after a detailed aide of the BJP MP had received the following WFI elections, the boxer had known as it a black day within the historical past of sports activities.
He had additionally questioned the silence of Indian cricketers on the problem.
Chatting with information company PTI after making the change, Mr Singh mentioned he had made a “effectively thought out determination” after connecting with the BJP via a standard good friend.
“I acquired in contact with the BJP via a standard good friend they usually have been welcoming. I used to be impressed with all of the work that the central authorities has carried out for sportspersons over the past 10 years. And I believed why not? I really feel I can contribute to the trigger, particularly for sportspersons who hail from Haryana. It’s my residence, in any case, and I need to assist make issues higher,” he mentioned.
Requested if the transfer was triggered by any dissatisfaction with the Congress, the boxer mentioned, “That may be a dialogue for another day. Sure, I’ll speak about these issues too, however not as we speak. It is a recent begin I’m making and I might need it to be on a constructive be aware.”
