– Yusra Firdaus
Former Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat has made her mark in the political arena by winning the Julana assembly seat in Jind district, Haryana. Running as a Congress candidate, Phogat won by a margin of 5,909 votes, defeating BJP’s Yogesh Bairagi. This victory is significant as it is the first time in 19 years that the Congress party has won the Julana seat, last secured in 2005.
Along with BJP’s Bairagi, Phogat faced challenges from the sitting MLA, Amarjeet Dhanda of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and fellow wrestler Kavita Dalal, who represented Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Her win breaks the control that the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) held on the seat from 2009 to 2019, giving new hope to the Congress in Haryana.
After the results, Phogat said, “The people have shown their support, and I will work for them. It’s not possible to focus on both politics and wrestling at the same time.”
Phogat’s decision to enter politics was driven by her personal experiences and frustrations with the system. In 2023, she led protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faced several harassment allegations. Despite widespread support, Phogat and other protestors were disappointed by the lack of action from both the government and the courts, pushing her to seek change through a political platform.
Following her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Phogat officially joined the Congress and was selected as the party’s candidate from Julana. While she didn’t win a medal at the Olympics, she shifted her focus to politics, where she could take on the BJP-led government over the handling of the harassment cases against Brij Bhushan Singh.
Phogat’s victory not only challenges the BJP’s dominance but also symbolizes her commitment to fighting for justice. She aims to bring positive change for the people of Julana and continue advocating for women’s rights and safety.
