Phogat lost the Dadri seat to independent candidate Somvir Sangwan
Babita Phogat, a Commonwealth gold medalist in wrestling, joined the BJP in August this year. She was contesting from Dadri, a seat in Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency which BJP has never won.
Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, also failed to turn the Bharatiya Janta Party’s fortunes and lost the Baroda seat by a margin of nearly 5000 votes. He lost it to Congress’ sitting MLA Sri Kishen Hooda, who had retained the seat in 2014 despite a stellar performance by the BJP.
Both Dadri and Baroda seats are challenging as BJP has never won these seats. BJP was hoping to make inroads with the star power of the Olympic sports stars.
Babita Phogal and Yogeshwar Dutt had joined the BJP in August and September, respectively, saying that they were impressed by the works of PM Narendra Modi and the BJP ideology.
The Phogat sisters and their father Mahavir shot to limelight after Aamir Khan’s 2016 film “Dangal”. The success of the Phogat sisters has attracted substantial media attention, particularly due to the prevalent social issues in Haryana such as gender inequality, female foeticide.
Sonali Phogat- Tik Tok star loses to Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi
Another star power that BJP banked on is of Tik Tok star Sonali Phogat in Adampur constituency. She was defeated by Senior Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi.
From the election results in Haryana, it looks like that the anti-national and communal rhetoric of BJP candidates did not go down well with the public. People want jobs, resolution of the growing agrarian crisis and not chest-thumping on article 370.
Many on social media cheered the loss of these candidates for their opportunist behavior and lack of any clear politics.
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BJP’s Tik Tok star lost her seat!
She was also a communal bigot who was distributing certificates of Anti-Nationalism while using the Cheap Chinese app to gain popularity
Thank you Haryana ???? pic.twitter.com/WLVHtUcwS8
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) October 24, 2019
First reaction of Sonali Phogat after her results! ????????#HaryanaAssemblyElections2019 pic.twitter.com/9PnsikPtRW
— Kɑuรtuɓɦ Ɱiรɦʀɑ (@iKaustubhMishra) October 24, 2019
The only gud thing of Haryana Election was the defeat of sports persons @BabitaPhogat @DuttYogi and Tik Tok star#OnlySeriousPeopleInPolitics
— Sultan Khan (@khansultan713) October 24, 2019
Communal bigot BJP's Sonali Singh Phogat who had insulted voters by calling them 'traitors' for not chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', has lost from Adampur constituency in Haryana.#ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/AoBleXnlXr
— Rofl Republic ???????? (@i_theindian) October 24, 2019
Phogat sisters are quite popular on social media and have been known for their pro-BJP and nationalistic tendencies for some time. Recently Babita Phogat also defended Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar after he courted controversy with his remarks on Kashmiri girls. She said- “Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has not made any such statement that is offensive to our sisters and daughters. I urge media to not misinterpret his statement,”
Yogeshwar Dutt said Congress is talking language of Pak after Balakot as if Pakistanis will vote for them. Today he lost to a Congress candidate.
Babita Phogat said BJP is the party of Deshbhakts. Ur every vote will be nail in coffin of Pak. Today she also lost election.
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— IRONY MAN (@karanku100) October 24, 2019
When both Chora and chori were not able to bring any GOLD ????????????????????#BabitaPhogat #YogeshwarDutt #HaryanaAssemblyElections2019 #ElectionResults2019 pic.twitter.com/Ouu6bpF90y
— Bahut Scope hai (@Bahut_Scope_Hai) October 24, 2019
Yogeshwar Dutt lost elections in Baroda.
Babita Phogat lost elections in Dadri.
Sonali Phogat lost elections in Adampur.
They are the stars of their field but not necessarily politics.#ElectionResults2019 #HaryanaAssemblyPolls #HaryanaAssemblyElections2019— मुसाफ़िर (@jeenedoyaar) October 24, 2019