New Delhi: Congress candidate and former wrestler Vinesh Phogat has secured a victory in the Julana assembly seat in Haryana, defeating BJP’s Captain Yogesh Bairagi and AAP’s Kavita Dalal. Phogat, an Olympian and prominent figure in Indian wrestling, won by a margin of over 6,000 votes. In her first reaction after the victory, Phogat declared, “Truth has won,” expressing optimism despite the ruling BJP crossing the majority mark with leads in 50 seats. The Congress is trailing with 35 seats, according to the latest trends on the Election Commission website. The BJP is poised for a third consecutive term in the state, defying exit poll predictions that suggested a Congress resurgence.Undeterred by the trends, the 30-year-old Phogat remained hopeful about her party’s prospects. “Let’s wait for some time. When the certificates come, the Congress will form the government,” she said, maintaining her optimism even as the BJP surged ahead.Phogat’s win is significant, as she only recently entered politics. She joined the Congress on September 6, shortly after her disqualification at the 2024 Olympics. Hours after joining the party, she was announced as a candidate for the Julana seat. Phogat, who had led protests against former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment, expressed her gratitude to the Congress for standing by her during difficult times.”I am starting a new innings,” she said, vowing to support fellow sportspersons and ensure they do not face the same challenges she did. Reflecting on her political journey, Phogat said, “It is only when times are bad that one finds out who is standing with them. When we were dragged on the roads, every party other than the BJP stood with us and understood our pain and tears.”