In a historic victory, former Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has won her first electoral battle, defeating BJP’s Captain Yogesh Bairagi by a margin of 6,015 votes in the fiercely contested Julana constituency. Phogat secured 65,080 votes, while her nearest rival Bairagi garnered 59,065, as per the results announced by the Election Commission. Surender Lather of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) could only manage 10,158 votes, finishing a distant third.
This win is particularly significant as it marks the Congress party’s return to the Julana seat after a 19-year gap. The last time the party held the seat was in 2005. In her victory speech, an elated Phogat said, “This is the fight of every girl, every woman who chooses the path of struggle. This is the victory of truth, perseverance, and the belief that change is possible. I will honor the love and trust this country has bestowed upon me.”
Initially seen as a smooth victory for Phogat, especially after her return from the Paris Olympics without a medal, the contest quickly escalated into a hard-fought battle. Bairagi, a non-Jat candidate contesting his first election, emerged as a formidable challenger. The race became even more complex with INLD’s Surender Lather trying to siphon off Jat votes from Phogat, and with the presence of two other Jat candidates – Amarjeet Dhanda of the JJP and WWE wrestler Kavita Dalal from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Lather, a strong contender early on, ultimately garnered only 10,158 votes. Sitting JJP MLA Amarjeet Dhanda fared worse, securing just 2,477 votes, while Kavita Dalal, initially considered a threat to Phogat, finished fifth with a mere 1,280 votes.
Despite the Julana constituency being heavily dominated by Jat voters – around 82,000 – Phogat’s journey to victory was fraught with challenges.
