Haryana’s Dronacharya awardee and former wrestler Mahavir Phogat, along with his wrestler daughter Babita Phogat, joined BJP on Monday. The Phogats, as they are famously known, had inspired Amir Khan-starrer blockbuster ‘Dangal’. This may be viewed as a rude shock to the the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP).
The Phogats have been associated with Hisar ex-MP Dushyant Chautala’s JJP since INLD split in 2018. Mahavir Phogat was appointed as the state chief of JJP’s sports cell. In fact, the duo had even rallied for the party in the LS elections.
However, there have been signs of the Phogats’ inclination towards BJP, especially since Babita defended CM M L Khattar over his “brides from Kashmir” remark.
आज भारतीय जनता पार्टी के साथ जुड़कर राजनीति में नई शुरुआत कर रही हूं ! आप सबसे भी आह्वान करती हूं कि आप भी भारतीय जनता पार्टी के साथ जुड़कर भारत के प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी के हाथों को मजबूत करें pic.twitter.com/6mmUwnKvYk
— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) August 12, 2019
The father-daughter duo joined BJP in the presence of the J P Nadda (BJP’s working chief ), party’s Haryana chief Subhash Barala as well as Union sports minister Kiren Rijijuin in New Delhi.
Despite the new relation, they stressed upon the fact that ties Dushyant Chautala won’t break soon. “We have got a lot while being in JJP. We might have left the party but have respect for Dushyant Chautala and his family,” they told a reporter.
Twitter Reaction
Here is how the Twitterati reacted as Mahavir and Babita Phogat joined Bharatiya Janata Party:
-- Advertisement --This is mood of India. That People like Babita ji, who have made India proud many times with her game, has joined BJP and ready to contribute in nation's progress in leadership of @narendramodi ji. @KirenRijiju
— NishantS?? (@nishants79) August 12, 2019
Dngl girl with her father.
Welcome.— Nidhi Pandey (@NidhiPa65696113) August 12, 2019
देश की शान बहन @BabitaPhogat जी एवं उनके पिता आदरणीय श्री महावीर फोगाट जी का भाजपा परिवार में स्वागत है…. pic.twitter.com/yEePLZdbgZ
— Gaurav Tiwari (@gauravtiwarirau) August 13, 2019
जिनकी कहानी पर फिल्म दंगल बनी…वो @mahaveerphogat और @BabitaPhogat अब राजनीति के दंगल में बीजेपी की तरफ से विपक्षियो़ को धूल चटाने की कोशिश करेंगे।@BJP4India
— komal insan (@InsanKomal12) August 12, 2019
Welcome to the dangal https://t.co/7gfS87gT24
— Jatin Anand (@JatinPaul) August 12, 2019
The real Dangal star Babita Phogat joins #BJP with her father While reel stars with fame & money r thankless to the nation it's such real stars who give in their bit.
— Kinnari vaidya (@Yashkin5) August 12, 2019
Dangal got fame because of Phogat Family. It is not other way round, @manakgupta https://t.co/sF8iWcjVrC
— Dhaval Patel (@dhaval241086) August 12, 2019
Wrestler #BabitaPhogat and her Father #MahavirPhogat , whose life inspired #Dangal have joined #BJP ahead of the #Haryana state assembly polls.. pic.twitter.com/Xgi0ZCqwHM
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) August 13, 2019
Dangal will never be the same again ? https://t.co/CCafhk3qBM
— Moosa (@MoosaRaza27) August 13, 2019
Kye dino ki tyyari k baad @BabitaPhogat Didi ne akhirkar qubool kr hi liya…… #WelcomeToBJP https://t.co/U7m5N7gP0t
— Osama Shahid اسامہ شاھد (@osamashahidazmi) August 13, 2019