Boxer Vijender Singh Joins the BJP After Leaving the Congress

Weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, boxer Vijender Singh announced his affiliation with the Bharatiya Janata Party, dealing another blow to the Congress. The Olympian had joined the Congress in 2019 and had lost against Ramesh Bidhuri of the BJP in his unsuccessful attempt to win the South Delhi seat in the general elections.

According to sources, the Congress intended to run the 38-year-old against Hema Malini, a BJP MP who has once again been chosen as a contender from the Mathura constituency. It is anticipated that this action will assist the BJP in consolidating Jat votes, which are particularly significant in Western UP and Haryana. It is anticipated that Mr. Singh will actively campaign for the BJP in these two regions.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mr. Singh became the first boxer from India to earn an Olympic medal—a bronze one. In addition, he took home silver and bronze from the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2014, as well as from the 2009 World Championships.