Vinesh Phogat wins debut election, defeats BJP’s Yogesh Kumar in Haryana

Congress candidate and former wrestling champion Vinesh Phogat won the Julana Assembly Constituency in Haryana, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Yogesh Kumar. According to the Election Commission of India, Phogat secured the seat by a margin of 5,761 votes.

This triumph marks the Congress’ first victory in Julana after 19 years. Phogat garnered a total of 65,080 votes after 15 rounds of counting, posting a margin of 6,015 votes over her BJP rival.

Congress leader and wrestler Bajrang Punia who joined the Congress along with Punia only days prior to the Haryana Assembly elections took to social media to congratulate Vinesh.

“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,” Bajrang Punia wrote on X.