Congress fields India's boxing icon Vijender Singh from South Delhi Lok Sabha seat
New Delhi, Apr 23 (IBNS): The Congress on Monday fielded India's iconic boxer Vijender Singh from the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.
Singh is the first Indian boxer to clinch a medal in the Olympics.
The sports icon was awarded Padma Shri, India's third highest civilian honour, for his contribution in the field of sports in 2010.
He is often considered as one of the iconic boxers to make the sports popular in the country.
Singh thanked Congress president Rahul Gandhi and leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for giving him an oppurtunity to contest the polls.
Singh said he will now look forward to serve people of the nation.
" In more than 20 yrs of my career in boxing i have always made my country proud in the ring. Now its time to do something for my countrymen & serve them. I would like to accept this opportunity & thank @INCIndia party @RahulGandhi ji @priyankagandhi ji for this responsibility," Singh tweeted.
In more than 20 yrs of my career in boxing i have always made my country proud in the ring. Now its time to do something for my countrymen & serve them. I would like to accept this opportunity & thank @INCIndia party @RahulGandhi ji @priyankagandhi ji for this responsibility
— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) April 22, 2019
BJP on Monday sprang a major surprise by fielding former cricketer Gautam Gambhir from East Delhi.
The announcement by the party also said that sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi will contest again from New Delhi.
There was speculation earlier that Gambhir could be fielded from New Delhi as it is an more urbane constituency.
Congress Central Election Committee announces the candidate for the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha from South Delhi constituency of Delhi pic.twitter.com/9OeQv2FA9H
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 22, 2019
The decision to field him from East Delhi would mean replacing of sitting party MP Maheish Girri who was associated with Art of Living.
The contest from East Delhi will now be more intense as Congress has named Arvinder Singh Lovely and the AAP is fielding Atishi.
In New Delhi, Lekhi will be pitted against Ajay Maken of the Congress and Brijesh Goyal of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Maken defeated veteran BJP leader Jagmohan in 2004 in New Delhi constituency.
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