Haryana Polls: Why Was Vinesh Phogat Picked By Congress To Contest Julana Assembly Seat?

Haryana Assembly polls news: Vinesh Phogat has been picked by the Congress party to contest the Julana Assembly seat in the upcoming Haryana elections.

Vinesh Phogat has a special connection with the Julana assembly segment.

Source : PTI

Vinesh Phogat news: The Congress released the first list of candidates for the Haryana Assembly elections on Friday, naming wrestler Vinesh Phogat for the Julana seat. While Vinesh Phogat is a globally known face and has significant appeal in Haryana, owing to her career as a successful wrestler and her support of the farmers' protests, the Julana Assembly seat holds a special place for her. 

Vinesh Phogat is contesting elections for the first time, starting her political journey from her in-laws' place. But why did the Congress choose the Julana seat for the ace wrestler? Vinesh Phogat married fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee in 2018, who is from the Bakhta Kheda village in the Jind district of Haryana. This village comes under the Julana Assembly segment. This is a Jat-dominated area.

कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष श्री @kharge की अध्यक्षता में आयोजित 'केंद्रीय चुनाव समिति' की बैठक में हरियाणा विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए कांग्रेस उम्मीदवारों की पहली लिस्ट। pic.twitter.com/NlAE4vwPGF

— Haryana Congress (@INCHaryana) September 6, 2024

Her maternal home is Balali village (Bhiwani district), which is in the Dadri Assembly constituency limits. Vinesh Phogat joined the Congress after meeting Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday, September 6. Apart from her, Bajrang Punia, who is her cousin Sangeeta Phogat's husband, also joined the party.

Vinesh has undoubtedly garnered massive support from Julana, owing to her success in the wrestling ring. However, her support base in the political arena will be known only on October 8.

Why Did Vinesh Phogat Choose Congress?

After joining the Congress party, Vinesh Phogat said, "I want to thank the countrymen. I thank the Congress party, they say that it was in bad times, when we were being dragged down the road, all the parties of the country, except the BJP, stood with us. They were able to understand our pain. I am proud to be with a party and ideology that stands against injustice and ill-treatment of women."

#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

She further said: "The way we have worked in wrestling. The BJP IT cell tried to prove that we were spent cartridges; that we were finished. They said I did not want to play nationals. But I played in the national championship and I went to the Olympics. I also went to the finals but God had something else in store for me. Now, God has given me the opportunity to serve the nation."