Congress' Vinesh Phogat wins Haryana's seat by over 6,000 votes

Olympian Vinesh Phogat has won the Julana assembly seat in Haryana, defeating BJP candidate Yogesh Bairagi by over 6,000 votes. The counting process began on October 5, revealing an intense competition with early trends suggesting Phogat's initial lead. However, Bairagi momentarily overtook her before Phogat surged back ahead, ultimately securing her victory.

Phogat's entry into politics followed her return from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was announced as the Congress candidate for Julana. Her win is particularly noteworthy as it comes amid the BJP's strong performance in the state, where they are currently leading in 48 seats, while Congress has captured 37. This result defies exit polls that had predicted a comeback for the Congress party.

Throughout her wrestling career, Phogat has been a fierce advocate for women's rights in sports, particularly following her involvement in the protests against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Yadav, a BJP member. Her victory is seen as a beacon of hope for women wrestlers in Haryana, where participation has declined due to systemic issues such as harassment. Many believe Phogat could play a crucial role in reviving women’s wrestling in the state if appointed as sports minister.

BJP's Yogesh Bairagi, a former Army officer and commercial pilot, entered politics recently and gained popularity for his community service during disasters, including the Chennai floods. The electoral race was further complicated by the presence of Jannayak Janta Party's sitting MLA Amarjeet Dhanda and AAP's Kavita Dalal, a former WWE wrestler. Expressing gratitude to the Congress party for their support during challenging times, Phogat emphasized the need to stand up for athletes' rights.