Vinesh Phogat, the renowned wrestler whose Olympic disqualification left the nation heartbroken, has officially entered politics as the Congress candidate for the Julana constituency in the upcoming Haryana elections. This marks a new chapter for Phogat, who, alongside fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia, was a key figure in the protest against former BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh, accusing him of sexual exploitation and intimidation.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will contest from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, while Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan will run from Hodal, as per the party's recently released list of 31 candidates. Mewa Singh will challenge the state's Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Ladwa. Other notable Congress candidates include Surender Panwar in Sonipat, Bharat Bhushan Batra in Rohtak, Kuldeep Vats in Badli, Chiranjeev Rao in Rewari, and Neeraj Sharma in Faridabad NIT.

During her official entry into the political arena, Phogat expressed gratitude to the people and media for their unwavering support throughout her wrestling career. She thanked the Congress, highlighting that "tough times reveal who truly stands with you," and criticized the BJP for its lack of support during the wrestlers' protests. Phogat, who was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to make weight for her gold medal bout, emphasized her commitment to fighting against injustice toward women and ensuring that future athletes do not endure the same hardships she faced.

Reflecting on her journey, Phogat, whose father was tragically killed when she was just nine, said she is proud to be part of a party and ideology that opposes injustice. She expressed her determination to fight for women's rights, both on the streets and in Parliament.

The BJP, which has governed Haryana for the past decade, recently replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as the state's Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Congress is engaged in seat-sharing negotiations with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the 90 seats in Haryana, with both parties holding firm positions.

The state will head to the polls in a single phase on October 5, with the votes to be counted on October 8.