Jind: All eyes fixed on the hot seat of Uchana, defeated big leaders BJP candidate Devendra Attri Became the king of Uchana. Atri won in a tough competition Congress Candidate Brijendra Singh by only 32 votes. This is not only the smallest margin of victory in history raise up Assembly but also the smallest in the state. Apart from this, there are 17 candidates including JJP and ASP candidates, former Deputy CM Dushyant. ChautalaHis bail was confiscated. Of those whose deposits were forfeited, none except independent candidate Vikas Kala could reach double digit vote count. The effect of close competition during the elections was also visible on the results. Devendra Attri got 48,968 votes, while Congress candidate Brijendra Singh got 48,936 votes. BJP’s vote share was 29.5%, while Congress’s vote share was 29.4%.
Independent candidates spoiled the game of Congress
Among those who wanted a ticket from Congress, former Market Committee Chairman Virendra Ghoghadia contested the elections as an independent candidate after not getting the ticket from Congress. He got 31,456 votes. Another independent candidate Vikas Kala got 13,458 votes and independent candidate Dilbagh Sandeel got 7,373 votes. All three independent candidates were from the Jat community, and their combined votes were more than 52,000, which contributed to hampering the Congress’s chances. Jat voters supported these independent candidates more than Congress. Dushyant Chautala got only 7,950 votes, while INLD-BSP candidate Vinod Pal got 2,653 votes.
During the election campaign, Devendra Attri and his team were seen actively campaigning. Unlike other prominent personalities, no big BJP leader was called to campaign in Uchana. On the last day of the election campaign, the only acting CM Nayab Singh Saini addressed a rally in Cotton Mandi. Attri’s wife Sushma Attri played a key role in his victory and formed a team of women who reached out to voters in villages. Throughout the campaign, Attri remained confident of his victory and the BJP’s decision to field a Brahmin face in the Jat-dominated seat proved successful. BJP also benefited from the division in Jat votes due to multiple Jat candidates.
Battle to see:
Fireworks started in the city at around 3 pm after BJP’s initial lead. BJP workers gathered at the party office on Rajbaha Road and Attri’s shop in Anaj Mandi. After this, a convoy of bikes went towards the toll and from there they brought Atri to the BJP office located on Rajbaha Road.
BJP’s victory in 2014:
BJP won the Uchana seat for the first time in 2014, when Prem Lata defeated INLD’s Dushyant Chautala. In 2019, JJP’s Dushyant Chautala defeated BJP’s Prem Lata. This time BJP fielded Devendra Attri, who won his first election by defeating Congress’s Brijendra Singh by 32 votes.
Minor losses in 2009:
The previous record of winning by the smallest margin in Uchana was made in 2009 when INLD’s Om Prakash Chautala defeated Congress’s Birendra Singh by just 621 votes. This time Devendra Attri defeated Congress candidate Brijendra Singh by just 32 votes. Till the results came, Congress workers were confident of victory and no one expected such a close defeat.
Raised saffron:
After BJP’s victory, Uchana turned saffron and party flags were hoisted in the markets. BJP workers celebrated by carrying flags on tractors, playing BJP songs and setting off fireworks. Celebrations were also held at the BJP office, where workers threw colorful powders and distributed sweets.
Congress won 8 rounds, BJP won 7 and Independent won 1 round:
The close contest in vote counting revealed electoral competition. There were 223 booths, which were divided into 14 rounds of counting. Congress was ahead in 8 rounds, BJP in 7 rounds and independent candidates in 1 round. With each round, the lead fluctuated, making the outcome mysterious. Supporters of both parties were keenly following the updates. Of the last five rounds, BJP won four.
In each round, as the count came down, different parties advanced:
BJP: Devendra Attri, Congress: Brijendra Singh, Independent: Virendra Ghoghadia
The votes fluctuated as follows:
Round 1: Brijendra Singh
Round 2: Brijendra Singh
Round 3: Devendra Attri
Round 4: Brijendra Singh
Round 5: Brijendra Singh
Round 6: Devendra Attri
…until BJP got majority.
Devendra Attri dedicated his win to his father:
In an emotional speech, Devendra Attri dedicated his victory to his late father Chaturbhuj Attri. He promised to serve the people of Uchana and expressed his gratitude for the blessings and support of the people, saying that it was his father’s hard work that was successful. He reiterated his commitment to the people of Uchana constituency, which elected the son of an ordinary farmer to the state assembly.
