GUWAHATI: Former Olympian and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat won the Julana seat in the Haryana Assembly Elections on Wednesday, October 8. She defeated her BJP opponent, Yogesh Kumar, by a margin of over 6,015 votes, according to the Election Commission.
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The wrestler-turned-politician’s victory marks a significant milestone for the Congress, as the party last won the Julana seat in 2005. Her win ends a 19-year drought in the constituency, which is located in the Jind district.
Phogat led early in the vote count but briefly fell behind before reclaiming her lead, ultimately securing a comfortable victory. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate Surender Lather finished third in the high-profile race.
Haryana voted in a single phase on October 5, with the elections recording a voter turnout of 67.90 per cent.
Phogat's latest triumph adds a new chapter to her illustrious career, transitioning from sports to politics, where her first electoral battle has yielded a historic win for both herself and the Congress party.