Julana Haryana Assembly Election Results 2024: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat vs Kavita Dalal; Here’s who’s winning

Haryana is gearing up for the 2024 Assembly election results, with the vote counting set to begin on October 8, 2024. The state’s political future hangs in the balance, with the BJP aiming for a third consecutive term. However, the party faces significant hurdles, including anti-incumbency and opposition from farmers, wrestlers, and youth. Exit polls suggest the Congress is poised to end the BJP’s decade-long rule, though the ruling party remains hopeful.The state’s political scene has become increasingly complicated with several parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), vying for influence. Multiple key constituencies, such as Sohna, Julana, Ladwa, and Rewari, are witnessing high-stakes battles that could reshape the state’s political future.

Julana: A Wrestler Showdown

One of the most prominent contests is unfolding in the Julana constituency, where two women wrestlers and a professional pilot are competing for victory. Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Vinesh Phogat, an internationally acclaimed wrestler, is facing off against fellow wrestler Kavita Dalal of the AAP. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded professional pilot Yogesh Bairagi as its candidate. The battle between these three contenders is drawing significant attention.

Julana is a rural constituency located in the Jind district of Haryana and is part of the Sonipat (General) Lok Sabha constituency. Historically, this seat has witnessed fluctuating political trends. In 2019, Amarjeet Dhanda of JJP won the seat, defeating BJP’s Parminder Singh Dhull by a margin of 24,193 votes. In 2014, Parminder Singh Dhull of INLD secured the victory, and in 2009, Dhull also won under the INLD banner.

A Background of Tough Contests

The Julana constituency has a long history of closely fought elections. In the 2009 Haryana Assembly elections, Parminder Singh Dhull of INLD won by defeating Sher Singh of INC with a margin of 12,811 votes. INLD had a 43.72% vote share that year. In 2014, Dhull repeated his victory, this time against Dharmender Singh Dhull of INC, with a margin of 22,806 votes. INLD’s vote share was 43.98% in that election.

The 2019 elections saw JJP candidate Amarjeet Dhanda claim the seat, defeating BJP’s Parminder Singh Dhull by a margin of 19.14%. Dhanda received 49.01% of the total vote share, showcasing JJP’s dominance in the constituency at the time.

Who are the key candidates in Julana

Vinesh Phogat, representing the Indian National Congress, is a well-known wrestler with a background as a sportsperson and former government employee. She holds a graduate degree and has declared assets worth Rs 3.7 crore, with no criminal cases against her. She has previously been vocal about farmers’ issues and has campaigned on promises of addressing the state’s unemployment and farmer distress.Kavita Dalal, also a wrestler, is running on an AAP ticket. Dalal, who has competed internationally, is 41 years old and has declared assets worth Rs 45.5 lakh. Like Phogat, she has no criminal cases against her.

Yogesh Bairagi, the BJP candidate, is a professional pilot with declared assets of Rs 9.9 crore. At 35 years old, Bairagi is seen as a fresh face, representing the party in an election marked by dissatisfaction from the state’s youth and farmers.

Historical Voter Turnout

Julana has seen steady voter participation over the years. In the 2024 Assembly election, the constituency registered a turnout of 69.8%, slightly lower than the 75% turnout in 2019. The voter turnout was even higher in 2014, at 77.58%, and in 2009, at 76.11%.

The electorate has also grown over the years. In 2024, there were 1,84,665 registered voters in the constituency, compared to 1,73,645 in 2019, 1,60,108 in 2014, and 1,36,988 in 2009. The number of service voters in 2019 was 1,624.

Why is Julana significant in state politics

The Julana constituency, classified as a rural seat, has been a significant battleground in Haryana politics for years. Its location in central Haryana and its part in the Sonipat Lok Sabha constituency make it a key seat. The influence of rural issues, including agriculture and unemployment, has made this a vital constituency for any party hoping to secure control of the state.

Historically, the Julana Assembly segment has aligned with different political forces in national elections. In 2024, INC led in the assembly segment, with Satpal Brahamchari defeating Mohan Lal Badoli of BJP in the Sonipat Lok Sabha seat. In contrast, BJP won in the assembly segment during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.