Wrestler and Congress leader Vinesh Phogat won the Haryana State Assembly elections from the Julana constituency. The recent Olympian earned a victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party's Yogesh Bairagi by 6,015 votes, according to the latest electoral trends. The vote count in the constituency started off on a nail-biting note, with both contenders facing their shares of leads and trails. However, from the seventh round of counting, at around 11:30 a.m., Phogat consistently enjoyed the lead by a significant margin.
Phogat, a debutante in politics and elections, tested her fate from a seat where the Congress has not found success since 2005. The other candidates included incumbent Julana MLA Amarjeet Dhand of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and wrestler Kavita Dalal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Fellow wrestler-turned-Congress leader Bajrang Punia congratulated Phogat, writing on X, "Many congratulations to the country's daughter Vinesh Phogat for her victory. This fight was not just for one Julana seat, it was not just with 3-4 other candidates, it was not just a fight between parties. This fight was against the strongest oppressive forces in the country. And Vinesh emerged victorious."
देश की बेटी विनेश फोगाट को जीत की बहुत बहुत बधाई।
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) October 8, 2024
यह लड़ाई सिर्फ़ एक जुलाना सीट की नहीं थी, सिर्फ़ 3-4 और प्रत्याशियों के साथ नहीं थी, सिर्फ़ पार्टियों की लड़ाई नहीं थी।
यह लड़ाई देश की सबसे मज़बूत दमनकारी शक्तियों के ख़िलाफ़ थी। और विनेश इसमें विजेता रही।#VineshPhogat… pic.twitter.com/dGR5m2K2ao
Vinesh Phogat Joins Congress Party
Phogat's entry into Congress is expected to strengthen the party’s position, particularly as there have been internal doubts about forming an alliance with the AAP. Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his pride on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Chak de India, Chak de Haryana! Met our talented champions Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who have made India proud in the world, at 10, Rajaji Marg. We are proud of both of you."
चक दे इंडिया, चक दे हरियाणा!
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 6, 2024
दुनिया में भारत का नाम रौशन करने वाले हमारे प्रतिभाशाली चैंपियन विनेश फोगाट और बजरंग पुनिया से 10 राजाजी मार्ग पर मुलाक़ात।
हमें आप दोनों पर गर्व है। pic.twitter.com/aFRwfFeeo1
At the Congress office, Vinesh Phogat spoke about her experiences and thanked the party for their support during difficult times. She said, "I want to thank the people of the country for supporting me during my wrestling career, and I hope I live up to their expectations. I want to thank Congress because, as they say, it is only when times are bad that one finds out who is standing with them. When we were dragged on the roads, every party other than the BJP stood with us and understood our pain and our tears."
#WATCH | After joining the Congress party, Vinesh Phogat says, "The fight is continuing, it hasn't ended yet. It's in Court. We will win that fight as well... With the new platform that we are getting today, we will work for the service of the nation. The way we played our game… pic.twitter.com/WRKn5Aufv2
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024
Phogat also expressed her pride in joining a party that supports women’s rights. She added, "I am very proud to be associated with a party that stands up against misbehaviour and injustice against women... I want to assure the people of the country that we will work for them with the same intensity with which we worked in wrestling. We stand with every woman who finds herself helpless."
#WATCH | Delhi | On joining Congress, Vinesh Phogat says, "I thank Congress party...Kehte hain na ki bure time mein pata lagta hai ki apna kaun hai...When we were being dragged on the road, all parties except BJP were with us. I feel proud that I have joined a party which stands… pic.twitter.com/FIV1FLQeXa
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024
Resignation from Indian Railways
Earlier that day, Vinesh Phogat resigned from her position as an officer on special duty (OSD) with Northern Railways, citing personal reasons. She shared her resignation letter on X, writing, "Serving Indian Railways has been a memorable and proud time of my life. At this point in my life, I have decided to separate myself from my service in the railways... I will always be grateful to the Indian Railway family for this opportunity."
भारतीय रेलवे की सेवा मेरे जीवन का एक यादगार और गौरवपूर्ण समय रहा है।
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) September 6, 2024
जीवन के इस मोड़ पर मैंने स्वयं को रेलवे सेवा से पृथक करने का निर्णय लेते हुए अपना त्यागपत्र भारतीय रेलवे के सक्षम अधिकारियों को सौप दिया है। राष्ट्र की सेवा में रेलवे द्वारा मुझे दिये गये इस अवसर के लिए मैं… pic.twitter.com/HasXLH5vBP
Phogat recently made headlines when she was disqualified from the 50 kg freestyle wrestling event after exceeding the weight limit by just 100 grams. Despite defeating reigning gold medallist Yui Susaki of Japan, her disqualification was a disappointment for fans.