The Nagrota Assembly constituency achieved a remarkable 75.08 percent voter turnout in the by-election held on November 14. The Election Commission confirmed that polling occurred peacefully across all 150 polling stations, which reflects a robust democratic engagement.
The election decided the fate of ten candidates, among whom are BJP’s Devyani Rana and NC’s Shamim Begum. The other contenders include JKNPP-I’s Harshdev Singh and Independent Anil Sharma. The counting of votes will follow on November 14, determining who will represent the constituency.
Chief Electoral Officer Sanjeev Verma conveyed to Daily Excelsior that the by-poll enjoyed “completely peaceful and smooth polling.” Verma visited several polling stations throughout the day and noted that voters expressed satisfaction with the available facilities. These included wheelchairs, drinking water, and effective queue management.
Officials reported minor disruptions, such as the replacement of one or two EVMs due to technical issues. However, polling resumed promptly at these locations, ensuring no significant delays.
This turnout closely mirrors the figure from the 2024 Assembly election, which recorded a turnout of 77.66%. In the previous assembly elections, Devender Singh Rana from BJP won with 48,113 votes while NC’s Joginder Singh trailed with 17,641 votes, evidencing a significant voter base.
This time, a similar number of votes were cast. The electorate has slightly increased to about 98,000 voters in Nagrota.
Election authorities established extensive security measures with a heavy presence of paramilitary and police personnel at sensitive polling locations. Observers from the Election Commission, including General, Police, and Expenditure observers, monitored various booths to maintain order throughout the election period.
After polling closed at 6 PM, officials secured the EVMs for safe transport to strongrooms, where they will remain under constant surveillance until the counting day.
This election also showcased the use of technology; presiding officers utilized the ‘Presiding Officer App’ under the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform. This advancement helped in rapidly uploading booth-wise turnout data, reducing delays and enhancing accuracy.
The need for this by-election arose following the sudden demise of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who had just won the Assembly seat in 2024. His daughter, Devyani Rana, an Economics graduate from the University of California, is campaigning with a focus on professional and inclusive development.
In contrast, NC’s Shamim Begum, who holds a DDC membership, emphasized her grassroots connections and party strength. Meanwhile, former minister Harshdev Singh has positioned himself as a voice for change, and Independent Anil Sharma’s local support played a key role in his campaign strategy.
Voter turnout remained high, with long queues forming at many booths post 9 AM, aided by pleasant weather which encouraged participation. Voters at the Kol Kandoli polling station expressed their desire to vote “to continue the pace of development in the Nagrota area.”
The political context in Nagrota remains dynamic, as it has alternated between BJP and NC over its last five elections since 1996, with recent victories favoring BJP. The Congress did not field a candidate for this by-poll, marking a significant departure from previous electoral strategies and indicating internal changes in political alliances.
The Nagrota and Budgam by-polls serve to fill two vacancies within the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which presently comprises 88 active members. These vacancies arose due to the passing of Devender Singh Rana and the resignation of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who vacated Budgam after successfully retaining his Ganderbal seat.
