New Delhi: In her first electoral bout since losing out on an Olympic medal, wrestler Vinesh Phogat has won Haryana’s Julana assembly constituency. She defeated BJP’s Yogesh Bairagi, Surender Lather of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the incumbent MLA Amarjeet Dhanda of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP).
The 30-year-old took the electoral plunge after she was disqualified from the 50 kg women’s wrestling event at the Paris Olympics ahead of the gold medal match for exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams. She was among wrestlers who led protests last year against then BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh—accused of sexual harassment by multiple women wrestlers.
Congress had not won the Julana assembly constituency, where Vinesh is in the fray, since 2005. At first, it appeared that Vinesh’s primary contender was Dhanda of the JJP.
However, Dushyant Chautala-led JJP’s stance on Centre’s now-withdrawn three farm laws and its decision to ally with the BJP in the aftermath of the 2019 assembly polls is said to have placed Dhanda on a weak wicket.
Also in the fray in Julana were AAP’s Kavita Dalal, the first Indian woman to perform with the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and INLD’s Lather who was formerly with the BJP. The BJP candidate from Julana, Bairagi, is an Other Backward Class (OBC) leader.
According to estimates, there are about 1.87 lakh voters in Julana, and Jats make up the largest voting block accounting for more than 50 percent of the total population there, followed by OBCs with 30 percent.
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Vinesh: Fighting against all odds
Vinesh Phogat had a difficult childhood, having lost her father who was shot dead when she was nine. Her mother raised her and sister Priyanka before their uncle Mahavir Phogat took them in and raised them alongside his four daughters—Geeta, Babita, Ritu and Sangita.
Earlier this year, Vinesh scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final of the Olympics (in 50 kg women’s wrestling). Despite missing out on a medal, she defeated four-time world champion Yui Susaki to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Prior to her stellar performance at the Paris Olympics, Vinesh won gold thrice at the Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018 and 2022), a gold at the Asian Games in 2018, and proved her mettle at several other tournaments.
Her entry into the political arena, however, marked a period of fissures within the family with uncle Mahavir suggesting she should have competed in the next Olympics, and cousin Babita declaring that she was ready to campaign against Vinesh in Julana.
Julana assembly seat
Julana assembly seat has traditionally been a stronghold of the INLD on account of the influence wielded by its founder the late Devi Lal in the region. Sher Singh of the Congress won the seat in 2005; voters elected Parminder Singh Dhull of the INLD as their MLA in 2009 and 2014. In 2019, Julana was won by Amarjeet Dhanda of JJP—an offshoot of INLD.
BJP, which was looking to give Vinesh a tough fight in Julana, was careful not to go against public opinion by making personal attacks against her.
On her part, Vinesh appealed to voters to ensure her win by introducing herself as the daughter-in-law of Julana since her husband and fellow wrestler Somveer Rathi belongs to Julana’s Khera Bakhta village.
On the fight in Julana, veteran Haryana-based journalist Satish Tyagi had told ThePrint, “The fight was between BJP, the Congress and the INLD since Lather has a strong vote bank here. Brahmin voters were supposed to shift to the BJP but instead turned to the Congress due to the (Bhupinder Singh) Hooda factor and a wave in favour of the party. Most Jats voted for Vinesh; she also gained traction among the youth and women.”
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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