New Delhi:

In one other jolt to the Congress weeks earlier than the Lok Sabha elections, boxer Vijender Singh has joined the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP).

The Olympian had joined the Congress in 2019 and unsuccessfully contested the overall elections from the South Delhi constituency, dropping 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. The transfer is anticipated to assist the BJP consolidate votes from the Jat group, which is very essential in Haryana and Western UP. The boxer is anticipated 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 gained 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 Common 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 battle earlier, to the UK and Dubai, as an example, sure issues would occur on the airports typically. However for the reason that 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 suitable 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 gained the next WFI elections, the boxer had referred to as it a black day within the historical past of sports activities.

He had additionally questioned the silence of Indian cricketers on the problem.