Intense Contest Expected in Julana Assembly Seat as BJP and Congress Announce Candidates

GG News Bureau
Julana, 11th Sept. The Julana assembly seat in Haryana’s Jind district is gearing up for a high-profile electoral battle as the BJP and Congress unveil their candidates for the October 5 assembly poll.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Capt Yogesh Bairagi, a former commercial pilot and current vice president of the Haryana BJP’s youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), as their nominee. Bairagi’s name appeared in the BJP’s second list of candidates released on Tuesday. At 35, Bairagi is also co-convenor of the BJP Sports Cell. He expressed his gratitude for the nomination and pledged to work diligently to secure a victory for the party in the upcoming election.

In a significant move, the Congress has chosen Vinesh Phogat, a celebrated wrestler turned politician, to contest from Julana. Phogat, who retired from wrestling to enter politics, has generated considerable interest in this Jat-dominated constituency. Although Phogat is originally from Balali in Charkhi Dadri district, her in-laws’ hometown is Julana, with Bakhta Khera village being the native place of her husband, Somvir Rathee. Phogat recently joined Congress along with fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia, who had been active in protests against former WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Phogat, 30, made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final, though she was disqualified in Paris for being slightly overweight in her 50-kilogram category.

The election for Haryana’s 90 assembly seats is scheduled for October 5, with votes to be counted on October 8. The contest in Julana is expected to be particularly competitive given the high-profile candidates representing both major parties.