Delhi’s ‘fattest dog’ election has a winner: 75-kg Gola takes the crown by nearly 40,000 votes
PTC Web Desk: Delhi has wrapped up one of its most unusual elections and this time, the winner had four legs, a wagging tail and a very large fan following.
Gola, a 75-kg community dog from the SDA Market area of Hauz Khas, has been declared the “fattest dog of Delhi” after defeating Googoo from Saket in the final of the city’s quirky ‘Fat Dogs of Delhi’ contest.
Gola, who was also known by, names including Kebab and Rajpal Singh, won the final by 39,904 votes, according to the contest organisers.
What made the victory particularly unusual was that Gola had died during the competition. Her supporters, however, continued the campaign in her memory, helping her make it all the way to the final.
From 64 dogs to one champion
The contest started with 64 community dogs from different parts of Delhi.
As the rounds progressed, neighbourhoods rallied behind their local favourites. Supporters took to Instagram and other social media platforms, creating posters, memes, reels and campaign messages to attract votes.
The playful competition gradually began to resemble a real election, with each dog developing its own local fan base.
Gola eventually reached the final, where she faced Googoo of Saket. Googoo had secured a place in the final after defeating Tara in a closely fought semi-final.
Delhi gets real polling booths
The contest was not limited to online voting. Organisers also arranged physical polling booths at cafes in areas, including Vasant Vihar, Kamla Nagar and Punjabi Bagh. People could turn up, cast their votes on paper ballots and even have their fingers marked, adding another touch of election-day drama to the event. People of different age groups took part, with young voters arriving alongside elderly residents. Some supporters even brought campaign material promoting their favourite dogs.
The result turned what started as a light-hearted contest into a citywide celebration of Delhi's community dogs and the people who care for them.
More than just a fun contest
While the competition was meant to be entertaining, it also gave animal lovers and volunteers a chance to talk about the lives of community dogs across Delhi. The organisers said the attention generated by the contest would also be used to support animal welfare initiatives, including contributions towards animal shelters, food, beds and collars.
For supporters, the contest became as much about celebrating familiar neighbourhood dogs as it was about finding Delhi's “fattest” one. And after weeks of campaigning, voting and plenty of social media buzz, Gola emerged as the winner.
Her posthumous victory has given the unusual contest an emotional ending , proving that in Delhi, even a chonky community dog can bring thousands of people together.
- PTC NEWS
