The Nagrota Assembly constituency saw an impressive 75.08% voter turnout during today’s by-election, with the Election Commission confirming a peaceful process across all 150 polling stations. The crucial by-poll is significant as it determines the fate of ten candidates, including BJP’s Devyani Rana and NC’s Shamim Begum.
Counting of the votes takes place on November 14, creating anticipation as the electoral stakes rise in this region of Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Verma reported a “completely peaceful and smooth polling” experience, assisting in building voter confidence.
Officials monitored the election closely, ensuring personnel resolved minor technical issues with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Despite one or two machines being replaced, polling continued without interruption, highlighting the efficiency of the electoral process.
Moreover, the turnout this year draws close to the 2024 Assembly election figure of 77.66%, indicating robust voter engagement. In the last elections, BJP’s Devender Singh Rana received 48,113 votes, outpacing NC’s Joginder Singh, who garnered 17,641 votes. The Congress party saw a minimal response with only 5,979 votes.
This year’s electorate registered approximately 98,000 voters, indicating a slight increase from previous elections, reinforcing the significance of the Nagrota constituency in regional politics.
Security measures during the by-poll were comprehensive, featuring a substantial deployment of paramilitary forces and police personnel at sensitive locations. Election Commission observers conducted visits to various booths to oversee operations, while senior officials monitored special polling stations to ensure ethical and secure polling.
Simultaneously, EVMs were shifted to strong rooms with round-the-clock surveillance, assuring voters of the integrity of the election process. For the first time, presiding officers utilized the ‘Presiding Officer App’ to upload booth-wise turnout data through the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform. This technical advancement minimized delays and reduced human errors during reporting.
The by-election was crucial due to the untimely death of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who had only recently won the Assembly seat in 2024. The party now fields his daughter Devyani Rana, an Economics graduate from the University of California, promoting a vision built on professional and inclusive development.
Her main opponent, NC’s Shamim Begum, a sitting DDC member, leveraged her grassroots connections, emphasizing the strength of her party’s organization. Former minister Harshdev Singh contested Nagrota for the first time, positioning himself as an alternative voice, whereas Independent candidate Anil Sharma, with a strong local presence as a former Sarpanch, appealed for support on local welfare issues.
Enthusiastic voters formed long queues at various booths after 9 am, encouraged by the sunny weather. Voters at Kol Kandoli polling station expressed their commitment to supporting ongoing development in Nagrota.
Historically, Nagrota has seen alternating victories between the BJP and NC over the past five elections, with the BJP claiming wins in 2002, 2008, and 2024, while NC emerged victorious in 1996 and 2014. The Congress party refrained from participating this election, despite being an alliance partner with NC at the Union Territory level.
The current by-poll, along with the Budgam constituency election, aims to fill two vacancies in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which now consists of 88 MLAs due to the recent resignation of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after retaining his seat in Ganderbal.
