For the Haryana assembly elections, Congress has fielded Olympian Vinesh Phogat from Jind’s Julana assembly constituency. With Vinesh Phogat entering the fray, the contest in Julana is expected to be interesting. JJP leader Amar Jeet Danda contested from here in 2019 and defeated BJP by a huge margin of 24193 votes.
With Vinesh entering the electoral fray, Congress appears to be strong in Julana assembly constituency. Vinesh Phogat will start her campaign from Julana on Sunday, where she will address a panchayat in her husband Somveer Rathi’s native village Bakhta Kheda.
Her father-in-law Rajpal Rathi has started touring the constituency and going from village to village to garner votes for his daughter-in-law and he is meeting the khap leaders of the community. From today, Vinesh’s brother Harvinder and other relatives from Balali and Charkhi Dadri will go to Julana to prepare the ground for Vinesh’s campaign.
BJP can bet on a Brahmin face
BJP has not announced the name of Julana candidate in the first list. According to sources, BJP may give ticket to a Brahmin due to the large population in this constituency. Jats are the largest vote block in the constituency, where they are around 50 percent of the constituency’s population. BJP state president Mohan Lal Badoli said, “…we will announce the next list for Haryana assembly elections soon.”
Also read: Haryana elections: Congress releases first list of 32 candidates, Vinesh Phogat gets ticket from Julana
On Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joining Congress, Mohan Lal Badoli said, “Players are the pride of our country, we do not do politics on them…they will work as members after joining Congress.”
What did Vinesh’s family and villagers say?
In an exclusive conversation with Aaj Tak, Vinesh’s brother Harvinder Phogat expressed pride in her decision to join the Congress. Vinesh’s family believes that politics is a new platform for her, from where she can fight for her important issues. Vinesh’s brother Harvinder said, “The struggle will continue, whether it is on the road or on the wrestling mat, and now in politics too. We will do healthy politics for women, farmers and the poor.”
Harvinder also targeted the statements made by BJP leaders after Vinesh joined the Congress and criticized former sports minister Anil Vij. He expressed disappointment that no BJP leader came to welcome Vinesh after she returned from the Olympics.
Also read: The rule due to which Vinesh Phogat had to resign from the railway job even before entering politics!
A neighbour of Vinesh said, “Julana is her in-laws’ area, and we will actively participate in her campaign. She is a star of our village and state, and will make us proud in politics too, just like she has done in sports.” The villagers said that they were expecting Badra or Dadri seats, but they will fully support Vinesh’s election campaign.
Julana became a hot seat
Julana assembly seat has now become a hot seat. This seat of Jatland has always been influenced by regional parties like INLD and JJP, but Vinesh and Bajrang joining the Congress will help the party strengthen the Jat vote bank, which is about 25 percent of the total population of the state.
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