Congress's Kumari Selja Secures Significant Victory in Sirsa, Strengthens Position in Haryana

In a significant political development from Haryana, Kumari Selja of the Congress party emerged victorious from the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat, marking a notable moment in the state's political landscape. At 61, Selja defeated BJP's Ashok Tanwar by a substantial margin of 2,68,497 votes in the reserved seat, highlighting her prominent position as a Dalit leader within the Congress in Haryana. This victory is particularly poignant as assembly polls loom on the horizon, set to take place in a few months.

Selja's triumph is not just a personal victory but also a historic one for Haryana. She becomes the seventh woman since 1966, when Haryana was established as a separate state, to be elected to the lower house of Parliament. This win marks a return for Selja to Sirsa, a constituency she represented over two decades ago, thus symbolizing a homecoming of sorts.

The electoral battle in Haryana was intense, with 223 candidates vying for the 10 Lok Sabha seats. Among these candidates, 16 were women. Before Selja's recent win, the state had seen only six women parliamentarians in its 58-year history. Notably, no woman candidate secured a win in the 2014 general elections. The first woman MP from Haryana was Chandravati in 1977, followed by others including Shruti Chaudhary in 2009 and two women MPs in 1999 - BJP's Sudha Yadav and INLD's Kailasho Saini.

Both Selja and her opponent Tanwar have previously held the position of president of the Haryana Congress. Tanwar's political journey saw him leaving Congress and joining BJP this year after affiliating with several other parties including AAP. The outcome of this election is likely to bolster Selja's role in strategizing for the upcoming assembly elections.

Following her victory, Selja expressed her gratitude towards the people of Sirsa and committed to prioritizing development, education, and health facilities in the area. She acknowledged the support and blessings she received from her constituents over the years. Selja criticized the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their unfulfilled promises and attributed her victory to public dissatisfaction with their policies.

A member of the Congress Working Committee and a former Union minister in the UPA government, Selja has had an illustrious political career. She holds an MA and MPhil in English from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Starting her political journey with the Mahila Congress in 1990, she was first elected to Lok Sabha from Sirsa in 1991 and then again in 1996. The daughter of former Union minister late Chaudhary Dalbir Singh, she has been elected as a Lok Sabha MP four times, representing Sirsa twice and Ambala twice.

This victory not only underscores Selja's enduring influence in Haryana politics but also reflects the shifting dynamics within the state as it gears up for the forthcoming assembly elections. Her focus on development and public welfare is expected to play a crucial role in shaping her party's campaign strategy.