The recent by-election for the Nagrota Assembly constituency witnessed a commendable voter turnout of 75.08 percent, as reported by the Election Commission. The polling took place peacefully across all 150 polling stations on November 12, marking a significant civic engagement in the region.
Ten candidates joined the fray in this election, including BJP’s Devyani Rana, NC’s Shamim Begum, JKNPP-I’s Harshdev Singh, and Independent candidate Anil Sharma. The counting of votes is slated for November 14, which will determine the fate of these candidates.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Verma praised the smooth conduct of the polling, stating, “We observed completely peaceful and smooth polling.” During his visit to various polling stations, Verma noted voter satisfaction regarding facilities like wheelchairs, drinking water, and effective queue management.
Officials reported minor technical issues with one or two Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), prompting immediate replacements. However, these incidents did not disrupt the polling process, allowing voters to cast their ballots without delays.
This turnout figure is almost comparable to that of the 2024 Assembly elections, which recorded a turnout of 77.66%. In 2024, BJP’s Devender Singh Rana secured a decisive victory with 48,113 votes, while NC’s Joginder Singh managed 17,641 votes. This time, the electorate stood at around 98,000 voters, with similar expectations for the number of votes cast.
Robust security arrangements, including a heavy presence of paramilitary forces and local police, ensured a safe environment for voters. Election Commission observatory teams, consisting of general, police, and expenditure monitors, closely supervised multiple booths throughout the day.
After polling concluded at 6 PM, EVMs were securely transported to strong rooms, where they will remain under constant surveillance until the counting date.
In a notable development, presiding officers utilized the newly launched ‘Presiding Officer App’ under the Election Commission of India’s Integrated ECTNet platform. This technology streamlined booth-wise turnout reporting, significantly reducing delays and human error.
The by-election occurred due to the untimely demise of BJP leader Devender Singh Rana, who passed away shortly after winning his seat in the 2024 Assembly elections. His daughter, Devyani Rana, stepped forward as the BJP candidate. An Economics graduate from the University of California, she emphasized her commitment to professional and inclusive development during her campaign.
Rivals included NC’s Shamim Begum, a current member of the District Development Council who leveraged her grassroots connection and party support. Former minister Harshdev Singh, contesting for the Nagrota seat for the first time, aimed to position himself as the “alternative voice” among voters, while Independent candidate Anil Sharma, a former Sarpanch, relied on local support and promises of welfare.
Voters displayed enthusiasm, creating long queues at several polling stations by 9 AM as sunny weather influenced turnout. Many voters at the Kol Kandoli polling station expressed their motivation to vote was driven by a desire to “continue the pace of development in the Nagrota area.”
The political dynamics of Nagrota showcase a history of alternating victories between the BJP and NC across the last five elections since 1996. BJP won in 2002, 2008, and 2024, while NC claimed victories in 1996 and 2014. Interestingly, the Congress party refrained from fielding a candidate this time, despite being alliance partners with NC at the Union Territory level.
The Nagrota by-poll, alongside Budgam, fills two vacancies in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, currently comprising 88 sitting MLAs. The vacancies arose due to the death of Devender Singh Rana and the resignation of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who vacated Budgam after retaining Ganderbal.
