Went to Harvard, Came Back, Won an Election: Haryana’s Yukti

This Harvard University alumnus fought her odds to win the Zila Parishad elections in Haryana.

Yukti Chaudhary (right) with her husband Varun Godara. (Photo: Facebook)

Haryana records the maximum gender ratio difference. However, the recently concluded panchayat elections is an exception. A 27-year-old woman with a degree from the reputed Harvard University contested the polls and won it eventually, making it a landmark in the history of the state.

Yukti Chaudhary who has an LLM in international human rights from Harvard Law School after a graduation in law from Delhi University was elected to Fatehabad Zila Parishad. This seat which was reserved for women was also contested by Poonam Sihag. Chaudhary won it by a thin margin of 35 votes.

She has put solving water issues as top priority and wishes to spread education to help others understand the policies of the state in a better manner.

Fielding her as a contestant was a decision taken by her family who was sure of her victory.

There are many educated women in our family, but we decided to field Yukti as she is the most educated woman in our clan.

Akash Godara, Yukti Chaudhary’s brother-in law

She is the granddaughter-in-law of former state home minister Mani Ram Godara, who held the post in the Bansi Lal government from 1996 to 1999.