Jind, October 8: Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has emerged victorious in the Julana constituency of Haryana's Jind district, securing a significant win for the Congress party. This triumph marks Congress's first win in Julana in 15 years, with Phogat becoming the first woman to ever hold the Julana Assembly seat [1).
Phogat's victory was nothing short of remarkable, with her polling 65,080 votes to defeat BJP's Yogesh Kumar by a margin of 6,015 votes. The INLD's Surinder Lather trailed behind with 10,158 votes. This win is especially impressive considering incumbent MLA Amarjeet Dhanda managed only 2,477 votes, a significant drop from his 2019 victory margin of over 25,000 votes.
Julana Assembly Seat: A Jat-Dominated Area
The Julana Assembly seat falls within the Jind district, which comprises five assembly seats: Julana, Safidon, Jind, Uchana Kalan, and Narwana. Journalists report a close contest in Uchana Kalan and Narwana, with Congress poised to win the remaining three seats.
Candidates Who Contested the Julana Seat
- Vinesh Phogat (Congress)
- Kavita Dalal (Aam Aadmi Party), also known as 'Lady Khali'
- Yogesh Kumar (BJP)
- Amarjeet Singh Dhanda (JJP)
Voting Percentage in Haryana
According to the Election Commission, Haryana recorded an overall voting percentage of 67.9%, with Julana witnessing a turnout of 74.66%. The highest voting percentage of over 80% was recorded in the Ellenabad Assembly seat of Sirsa district.
Vinesh Phogat's win is a significant milestone for Congress in Haryana, and her personal connection to the region, being married to fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee from Bakhta Kheda village in Jind district, likely played a role in her success.