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photo-article-logo Monday, 07 October 2024

Wrestler vs wrestler vs pilot: Electoral debutants gear up for high-profile contest in Julana

In the electoral ring in Haryana are Vinesh Phogat, Kavita Dalal, Yogesh Bairagi and Bajrang Punia ready for a political joust

Our Web Desk Published 13.09.24, 04:57 PM

With two star women wrestlers and a pilot grappling for electoral victory, polls in Haryana’s Julana assembly constituency will not just be a political joust but also one of the most keenly watched in the state.

Former wrestler and Congress candidate from Julana constituency Vinesh Phogat being felicitated during her election campaign for the upcoming Haryana Assembly, in Jind district, Haryana.
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Former wrestler and Congress candidate from Julana constituency Vinesh Phogat being felicitated during her election campaign for the upcoming Haryana Assembly, in Jind district, Haryana.

PTI
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In the electoral ring are Congress’ Vinesh Phogat, the sports icon who became the fierce face of an anti-sexual harassment protest and retired from wrestling after a shock end to her medal campaign at the Paris Olympics.

Olympian Vinesh Phogat being felicitated at a farmers' rally on the 200th day of their ongoing protest, at Shambhu border.
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Olympian Vinesh Phogat being felicitated at a farmers' rally on the 200th day of their ongoing protest, at Shambhu border.

PTI

Earlier on August 31, Vinesh had attended an event of farmers at the Shambhu border as their protest, demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), entered its 200th day.

Vinesh, a well-known athlete and supporter of the farmers' movement was honoured by the farmers during the days' events.

Kavita Dalal (left), The Great Khali (right)
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Kavita Dalal (left), The Great Khali (right)

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AAP’s Kavita Dalal, a South Asian Games gold medalist in 2016, she has trained at the Jalandhar academy of The Great Khali and became the first Indian woman to sign up with the WWE.

Captain Bairagi is widely recognized for his heroic efforts during the Chennai floods and his significant role in the "Vande Bharat" mission.
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Captain Bairagi is widely recognized for his heroic efforts during the Chennai floods and his significant role in the "Vande Bharat" mission.

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To face the wrestlers BJP announced Captain Yogesh Bairagi, a former commercial pilot, as its nominee.

While Phogat enters the political arena with this election, Dalal, popularly known as Lady Khali, joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2022 and Bairagi has been part of the BJP for about four years.

Vinesh Phogat (left), Captain Yogesh Bairagi (centre), Kavita Dalal (right)
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Vinesh Phogat (left), Captain Yogesh Bairagi (centre), Kavita Dalal (right)

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It’s the first election for all three, all of whom are in their 30s.

Amarjeet Dhanda
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Amarjeet Dhanda

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Making up the fourth corner in the contest in the Jat-dominated constituency is Amarjeet Dhanda, the sitting MLA fielded again by his Jannayak Janta Party.

Thursday was the last date for filing of nominations for the October 5 elections.

Former wrestler and Congress candidate from Julana constituency Vinesh Phogat with husband and wrestler Somvir Rathee and others during her nomination filing for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, in Jind district.
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Former wrestler and Congress candidate from Julana constituency Vinesh Phogat with husband and wrestler Somvir Rathee and others during her nomination filing for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, in Jind district.

“In wrestling, we have learnt that never take your opponent lightly," Phogat, the centre of national heartbreak when she was disqualified after she was found 100 gm over the weight limit on the day of her final bout in Paris, said after filing her nomination on Wednesday.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi with wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia in New Delhi.
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Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi with wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia in New Delhi.

PTI

Phogat joined the Congress just ahead of the campaign along with Bajrang Punia, also at the forefront of the wrestlers' protest last year against then Wrestling Federation of India chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The 30-year-old wrestler-turned-newbie politician, whose in-laws belong to Julana, said she will try and live up to the expectations of people. "They treated me more as a daughter than a daughter-in-law," Phogat, the first Indian woman grappler to reach the Olympics final, said.

Kavita Dalal
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Kavita Dalal

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While Phogat is projecting herself as the 'bahu' (daughter-in-law) of Julana, Dalal said would like to seek votes as 'beti' (daughter).

If the people of Julana ensure her victory, she will strongly raise their voice in the Vidhan Sabha, the 37-year-old former wrestler told journalists on Thursday in Julana.

Responding to a question on Phogat as a political opponent, she said she has no personal fight with the Olympian.

"It is a fight between ideologies of political parties," Dalal, from Malvi village in the constituency, said.

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Dalal represented India in weightlifting in 2016 South Asian Games and won a gold medal. She later moved to professional wrestling and was trained at the Jalandhar academy of former WWE star Dalip Singh Rana, known as the 'Great Khali.' She competed in the Mae Young Classic in 2017 and later made her name in WrestleMania and WWE.

Julana assembly constituency in Jind district is considered the Jat heartland of Haryana. Of the 1.85 lakh voters in the Julana segment, 40 per cent of them belong to the Jat community. People belonging to the Brahmin and the Scheduled Caste also have a significant presence in the constituency.

Yogesh Bairagi
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Yogesh Bairagi

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Bairagi, 35, currently the vice president of Haryana BJP's youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and co-convenor of the BJP Sports cell.

He said he will work hard to ensure the victory for the BJP in the upcoming elections.

He also appealed to voters of the Julana constituency to give him a chance to serve them.

Amarjeet Dhanda
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Amarjeet Dhanda

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JJP nominee and sitting legislator Amarjeet Dhanda said people were quite happy with the works he undertook in his constituency. Whatever was possible within his means as an MLA, he tried to do that, he said. He said he is available round-the-clock available to people of his constituency.

Dhanda also sought to downplay the entry of the Olympian in the electoral contest from Julana and said people of the constituency will again give him their blessings.

Babita Phogat
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Babita Phogat

PTI

Commonwealth gold medalist Babita Phogat brought her fighting spirit to politics, contesting the Haryana Legislative Election in Dadri on a BJP ticket in 2019. While she didn't win, her passion and influence remain undiminished.

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