Sonali Phogat, a BJP leader and actress who gained notoriety as a TikTok celebrity and through a stint on the hit reality competition Bigg Boss, passed away late on Monday after having a heart attack in Goa. In Haryana's 2019 assembly election, Phogat ran unsuccessfully against Kuldeep Bishnoi of the Congress, who has since joined the BJP. It was rumoured that Phogat would run in the Adampur byelection, which would have put her back in the seat Bishnoi won when she crossed the aisle.
The political community has been flooded with condolences for Sonali Phogat. Many people, including Bishnoi and OP Dhankar of the BJP, have expressed disbelief.