Political Dangal

After fighting hard for Olympic glory and protesting against sexual violence, Vinesh Phogat has now stepped into a new role: the politician

- Rakhi Bose

A JCB loader, tattooed with a ‘No Farmers, No Food’ sticker, stood waiting for newly-inducted Congress leader Vinesh Phogat. Its metal bucket, filled with rose petals, was poised in readiness, as paeans in honour of the wrestling champion echoed from loudspeakers.

“Sarkar samajh mein aayi na, chhori ke sapne maar diye... Karo swagat sherni ka, ladke aayi se… (The government didn’t understand and killed the girl’s dream. Welcome the tigress coming home after the fight),” the loudspeakers blared.

These were the scenes at a jan sampark rally in Kheema Kheri village of Haryana’s Julana constituency, where multiple Commonwealth Games medal winner, Phogat, is contesting the upcoming assembly elections on October 5. Elderly men in turbans, khap (clan-based councils) members and women swathed in dupattas filled the venue. As Phogat’s convoy arrived, young girls and budding wrestlers were pushed forward to greet their “role model”. The music switched to the cheerful Congress campaign song: “Vinesh Phogat aagyi re (Vinesh Phogat has arrived).”

After steering through the highs and lows of ‘Olympic’ proportions and locking arms with opponents on wrestling mats, Phogat has now embraced politics and stepped into its dusty pit of electioneering.

A rasp in her throat after six days of rallying has not slowed down the spring in her step or dulled the zeal with which the athlete has been campaining. Banking on her marital ties to a wrestling family in Bakhta Khera, Phogat moved swiftly through the crowds, seeking blessings as “Julana’s daughter-in-law”. She told voters, “Julana ki bahu ki izzat aapke hath mein hai... Apni chori ko jittaow (The honour of Julana’s daughter-in-law is in your hands. Help me win)” Describing Julana as her “