A clamour for a Rajya Sabha seat for former wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the Paris Olympics in a heartbreaking twist of fate, has intensified with elections for 12 seats set to take place next month. While former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda stressed that Phogat should be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, Rajya Sabha rules reveal that the star grappler won’t be eligible as she is below 30 years of age. As per the rules, a person should not be less than 30 years of age to become a member of the Rajya Sabha. Presently, Phogat is 29 years of age and will be 30 on August 25, 1994.
Elections for 12vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha will take place on September 3. One seat in Haryana is vacant as Congress leader Deepender Hooda contested the Lok Sabha election from Rohtak and won by a margin of 3.4 lakh votes. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcement, the notification for the Rajya Sabha elections will be issued on August 14 and the last date for filing of nomination papers is August 21. Thus, even if Congress wants to, Phogat will not be eligible as she will be 30 years of age on August 25, missing the cutoff date by just 3 days.
