BJP’s historic win in Gohana rewarded as Dr Arvind Sharma joins Cabinet

In a historic moment, Dr Arvind Kumar Sharma, the first BJP MLA from Gohana, has been sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in Nayab Singh Saini’s Cabinet 2.0. Dr Sharma made history by securing a BJP victory in the Gohana constituency, traditionally a stronghold of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, for the first time in 57 years.

Breaks 57-year-old record

Gohana, part of the Deswali belt, has long been considered Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s stronghold. However, the BJP not only won Gohana but also the Kharkhoda constituency, breaking the long-standing dominance of the Congress in these areas.

Gohana, part of the Deswali belt, has long been considered Hooda’s stronghold. However, the BJP not only won Gohana but also the Kharkhoda constituency, breaking the long-standing dominance of the Congress in these areas.

Dr Sharma’s victory has been recognised with a Cabinet position. A dental surgeon by profession, he started his political career by winning the 1996 Lok Sabha election from Sonepat as an Independent. He later joined the Congress, becoming a Member of Parliament in 2005 and 2009. In 2014, he resigned from the Congress and joined the BSP, where he was projected as the CM face but unsuccessfully contested elections in Yamunanagar and Julana.

In 2019, Dr Sharma joined the BJP and contested the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat, where he defeated former Chief Minister Hooda’s son, Deepender Hooda, by a narrow margin of 7,503 votes. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Deepender Hooda defeated Sharma by a significant margin of 3,45,298 votes, reclaiming the seat. Despite the setback, the BJP continued to place its trust in Dr Sharma, fielding him from the Gohana Assembly constituency in the recently held Assembly elections.