Politics has gone to the dogs in Delhi. A new election debate is taking over the internet even beyond the city’s borders. The 64 fat cats are all dogs, each wider than the next. And when Rohini’s beloved Kutta Singh was edged out by Vasant Kunj’s Gajinder, allegations of election fraud entered the mix.
“Kutta Singh is independent… Gajinder is winning through paid votes, bass,” a passionate supporter declared on X.
“Gajinder nation we never e-barked for votes,” the opposition fired back.
The whole saga began when @fatdogsofdelhi, an Instagram page devoted to celebrating the city’s chonkiest dogs, launched a “Fat Dog Competition”. The rules were straightforward: 64 dogs, six knockout rounds, Instagram Stories polls and 24 hours per matchup.
There were no constituencies, no EVMs, and no Election Commission. Just Instagram Stories and the collective political will of people with extremely strong opinions about canine girth.
What started as a lighthearted contest quickly became one of the most closely watched “elections” in the city. Screens lit up, campaigns flooded social media, while grievances and favourites were discussed threadbare. There are even calls for wild-card entries and repolls after the first round knocked out 32 contestants.
The Viral Spiral this week is dog lovers across the country spiralling over Delhi’s most-watched election: 64 doggo candidates, zero manifestos and absolutely no clarity on what any of them would actually do if they win.
“Voted for change. Voted for a better nation #fatdogsofdelhi,” a Gajinder voter declared on X.
“Voted on da fat dogs of delhi poll as a person who has never been in Delhi,” yet another Gajinder fan wrote.
The voter base is nationwide. Democracy, apparently, is now borderless—provided you have Instagram.
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Delhi’s new political heavyweights
Many of the contestants have names that JK Rowling might be proud of making up: Kutta Singh, Gogo, Googoo, Mr Humayunpur, Chewbacca Raza Singh, Bhondu Ki Barfi, Dahi Bhalli, Cwosant, Mrs Pumphrey Ka Kutta, Kebab, and my personal favourite, Mahakutteshwar.
Some pointed out inaccuracies in the candidate list, such as one black-and-white “Khan Sahab” from Khan Market.
“The Khan Market dog was called Tara, not Khan Sahab. She passed away a few months ago but was an absolute legend. I have a lot of videos of her rolling like a cylinder,” a comment clarified.
“‘Rolling like a cylinder’ is such a beautiful way to describe a fat dog,” read one reply.
The campaign for Kutta Singh soon began to resemble an actual political movement. DTU students campaigned hard for their favourite, distributing printed flyers and apparently operating on the timeless principle that no election campaign is complete without photocopy paper.
“Kutta Singh has constantly changed the lives of many Rohini/DTU and surrounding college peeps over the years,” a loyal constituent on X wrote. “Her massive presence rocked our world right into place. This underdog deserves a place above nepo dogs.”
A Gajinder supporter alleged this kind of Kutta Singh “propaganda” came from one of the “most devious political IT cells of all time”.
most devious political IT cells of all time
1. bjp it cell propaganda
2. kutta singh it cell propaganda for fatdogsofdelhi competition
— basith (@basithladoo) September 24, 2026
With all eyes on the Gajinder vs Kutta Singh poll, many were sure of a win: aayega toh Kutta Singh hi. And then, in a plot twist worthy of Indian election television, this underdog candidate was eliminated in the very first round.
To lose “with 62-38 is crazy embarrassing”, a user wrote
Kutta Singh, meanwhile, continued chomping on snacks and napping in complete indifference.
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Vote chori, class divide, capitalism
By the time results for Round 1 rolled around, the discourse had fully degenerated into classic Indian election energy.
Hot button topics included allegations of nepo-baby contestants (pet dog breeds in a competition of indies), neighbourhood loyalties, class-divide allegations, smear campaigns against dogs that bite, the occasional genuine moral conversation about whether canine obesity is something to be laughed off and, inevitably, claims that the entire process was rigged.
Nepo connections se aaye huye contestants btw pic.twitter.com/3S8hoGxFyK
— g4uri (@okjaaneman) September 24, 2026
“This election is RIGGED I must say, we should stand together to raise our voice for this corruption,” alleged a comment on the post about results.
Vote-chori had made its way into the canine world too. What a sad state of affairs, truly. Someone call the Chief Pawlling Commissioner.
In the battle between Gola from Hauz Khas and Golu from Lajpat, accusations of systemic class bias were hurled.
An outraged voter wrote: “Hauz Khas ke ameer bache Insta use karte hai aur jita rahe use, Lajpat gareeb jagah log button vaale phone use karte, isliye haar raha vo”—the rich kids of Hauz Khas are on Instagram voting him to victory, while people in Lajpat, a poorer area, are stuck with button phones, which is why their dog is losing.
The same Gola supporter later lamented: “Idhar bhi capitalism ki jeet hogyi”—capitalism won again.
And capitalism did win, of course—if not at the polls, then in brand marketing rooms.
Blinkit threw its full corporate weight behind Kutta Singh, posting “full support to Kutta Singh from Rohini, free treats for the winner btw, woof woof”. When the results came out, it added: “no matter what the results say, Kutta Singh will always be our winner.”
Nothing says grassroots democracy like a quick-commerce company entering the race with free treats. Those with real skin in the game called it out.
“These brands are always trendhopping… kutta singh will never approve of this,” read one critique.
Who wins will ultimately be decided by Instagram. But for now, the great Fat Delhi Dog Election rolls on. The people have spoken, the dogs have campaigned, the brands have intervened and democracy has been reduced to a 24-hour Story poll. May the fattest dog win.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)