Julana Assembly Elections 2024: Vinesh Phogat Secures a Resounding Victory

Former Olympian wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat secured a decisive victory from the Julana constituency on Tuesday, winning by over 6,000 votes. This historic win marks the Congress party's first success in the area since 2005, ending a 19-year drought.

As per the latest trends from the Election Commission, the ruling BJP has crossed the majority mark in the Haryana assembly, leading on 49 seats, while the Congress is ahead on 35.

Among the prominent candidates, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Vinesh Phogat, Udai Bhan, and independent candidate Savitri Jindal were ahead in their respective constituencies. In contrast, senior BJP leader Anil Vij, INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala, and JJP's Dushyant Chautala were trailing.

Vinesh Phogat, alongside fellow Olympian Bajrang Punia, known for their athletic accomplishments and activism against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, joined the Congress party last month to enter the political arena.

Candidates in the Julana Race

Phogat faced competition from former Army captain and BJP candidate Yogesh Bairagi, along with incumbent Julana MLA and JJP candidate Amarjeet Dhanda, and AAP candidate wrestler Kavita Dalal. The INLD held the Julana seat from 2009 to 2019, while Congress last won it in 2005.

Commitment to Service and Justice

After a meeting with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Phogat expressed that her political journey is about more than just politics; it's a fight for service and justice. When asked about aspirations for a ministerial position, she stated, “It is not in my hands [to become a minister], it is in the hands of the high command... I don't want to be limited to Julana, but work for the entire state.”

Advocating for Women's Rights

Phogat urged voters to support the party that champions women's rights. After casting her vote in Charkhi Dadri, she described the election as a significant event for Haryana, emphasising the importance of voter participation. She noted, “When Bhupinder Hooda was the chief minister, the level of sports in the state was really good," and encouraged citizens to remember the BJP's treatment of farmers and others.

Acknowledgement from Congress

Hooda remarked that Vinesh Phogat's candidacy represents Congress's “token of gratitude” for her contributions to the country. However, her nomination has faced criticism from the BJP, with many leaders claiming she is merely a Congress leader, not the "country's daughter" who was "wrongly denied" an Olympic medal. Vinesh’s cousin and BJP leader, Babita Phogat, accused Hooda of causing a rift within the Phogat family by fielding her.