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The upcoming Haryana Assembly elections are witnessing an unusual wave of enthusiasm in Bakhta Khera village, the native village of wrestler Somvir Rathee, husband of Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat. Phogat, fielded by the Congress party as their candidate for the Julana constituency, is set to visit the village on Sunday, where she will be greeted with a 100-gram gold medal from the Rathee Khap and a cash prize of Rs 1.81 lakh from the Chaugama Khap.
The village, located in a Jat-dominated belt, is brimming with pride over their “bahu” (daughter-in-law)'s political aspirations. The news of her visit has ignited excitement, particularly among women, who are eager to witness their sporting icon's entry into politics. The village sarpanch, Poonam Rani, a relative of Phogat, believes that her candidacy will inspire young girls and women to pursue political careers, breaking traditional barriers. She emphasizes that Phogat’s entry into politics has put Bakhta Khera on the national map, erasing its previous anonymity.
While Phogat’s supporters are optimistic about her chances, the political landscape in Julana is not without its challenges. Baljeet Lathar, a hotel owner in Julana, points out that 86 aspirants vied for the Congress ticket, some working in the constituency for a decade, before Phogat was chosen. The JJP’s sitting MLA, Amarjeet Singh Dhanda, anticipates infighting within the Congress over Phogat's candidacy, predicting that the ticket aspirants may be disgruntled. However, Naveen Sangwan, a Congress leader, claims that the JJP is not a serious contender and that the Jat community, which constitutes a significant voter base in Julana, may vote en masse for Phogat.
The Julana seat has historically been a stronghold of the Chautala family. While the INLD held the seat in 2009 and 2014, the JJP emerged victorious in 2019 after the INLD split. The Congress last won this seat in 2000 and 2005. Phogat’s entry into this politically charged arena has injected a new dynamic into the campaign. Her performance on the political stage remains to be seen, but her journey from Olympian to candidate has already sparked conversations about the role of women in politics and the shifting political landscape of Haryana.