The Nagrota Assembly constituency registered a remarkable 75.08 percent voter turnout during today’s by-election. Polling proceeded peacefully across all 150 polling stations, as confirmed by the Election Commission.
This by-poll decides the fate of ten candidates, including BJP’s Devyani Rana, NC’s Shamim Begum, JKNPP-I’s Harshdev Singh, and Independent Anil Sharma. Counting of votes will occur on November 14.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Verma expressed his satisfaction with the polling process. He noted, “We witnessed completely peaceful and smooth polling.” Verma toured several polling stations and reported positive feedback from voters about the available facilities, including accessibility features and queue management.
Officials reported minor technical issues with a few Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which were replaced promptly without disrupting the voting process. The smooth operation of the election reflects an organized effort by the local administration.
With the voter turnout close to the figures from the last Assembly election in 2024,
Nagrota had seen a total turnout of 77.66%. The significant participation today is noteworthy, especially with a slightly increased electorate of approximately 98,000 voters.
In the previous election, BJP’s Devender Singh Rana won decisively with 48,113 votes, whereas Congress candidate Balbir Singh managed only 5,979 votes. This year’s turnout indicates a similar trend, with expectations aligning closely to past elections.
Officials ensured robust security throughout the voting period. A substantial deployment of paramilitary and police forces enhanced safety, particularly at sensitive polling stations. Electoral Observers monitored the process rigorously, while senior officials supervised special booths to maintain integrity.
After polling concluded at 6 PM, all EVMs were securely transported to strong rooms, where they will remain under constant surveillance until counting day.
This election also embraced technology for efficiency. Presiding officers utilized the ‘Presiding Officer App’ under the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform for real-time, booth-wise turnout data uploads. This technological advancement minimizes delays and errors in reporting.
The by-election was prompted by the unfortunate demise of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who passed away shortly after winning the Assembly seat in 2024. His daughter, Devyani Rana, an Economics graduate from the University of California, confidently campaigned on promises of “professional and inclusive development.”
Shamim Begum of the National Conference, a sitting DDC member, sought to leverage her strong grassroots connections, while Harshdev Singh presented himself as a fresh alternative voice in Nagrota. Independent candidate Anil Sharma, a former Sarpanch, relied on local support built on community welfare assurances.
Voters expressed enthusiasm as polling commenced, with many reported long queues after 9 AM, energized by the sunny weather. One voter at Kol Kandoli station stated, “We are casting our ballots to ensure the momentum of development continues in Nagrota.”
The political dynamics in Nagrota reveal a historic trend of alternating victories between the BJP and NC since 1996, with the BJP claiming wins in 2002, 2008, and 2024, while the NC previously secured victories in 1996 and 2014. The Congress, traditionally a significant player, chose not to field a candidate this time and distanced itself from the NC’s campaign, further interesting the political narrative.
The Nagrota and Budgam by-polls aim to fill two vacancies in the 90-member Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, which currently operates with 88 sitting MLAs. The vacancies arose as a consequence of Devender Singh Rana’s death and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s resignation following his successful retention of the Ganderbal seat.
