The Nagrota Assembly constituency witnessed an impressive 75.08 percent voter turnout during the by-election conducted today. According to the Election Commission, polling remained peaceful across all 150 booths, marking a significant civic engagement moment for the region.
Ten candidates contested in this election, including BJP’s Devyani Rana, NC’s Shamim Begum, JKNPP-I’s Harshdev Singh, and Independent Anil Sharma. The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14, and results will determine the next representative for the constituency.
Chief Electoral Officer Sanjeev Verma shared insights with Daily Excelsior, stating that the by-poll witnessed “completely peaceful and smooth polling.” Verma visited multiple polling stations and noted that voters were satisfied with the facilities, including access to wheelchairs, drinking water, and effective queue management.
During the polling, officials addressed minor technical issues with one or two Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), promptly replacing them without causing any disruptions.
This by-election’s turnout closely mirrored that of the 2024 Assembly elections, which recorded a turnout of 77.66 percent—highlighting significant voter resilience and involvement. In 2024, BJP’s Devender Singh Rana won the seat with 48,113 votes, while NC’s Joginder Singh garnered 17,641 votes. Congress candidate Balbir Singh received a mere 5,979 votes.
Authorities confirmed that a similar number of ballots were likely cast in this election, with the updated electorate slightly exceeding 98,000 voters.
Security arrangements for the by-poll have been thorough, with a heavy deployment of paramilitary and police personnel at sensitive polling locations. Election Commission Observers, encompassing General, Police, and Expenditure observers, closely monitored multiple booths. Senior officials also attended special polling stations to ensure a smooth process.
Upon closing polling at 6 PM, officials securely transported the EVMs to strong rooms, where they will remain under constant surveillance until counting day.
This election incorporated technology advancements, with presiding officers using the ‘Presiding Officer App’ to upload booth-wise turnout data digitally via the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform. This initiative aimed to reduce delays and human error during reporting.
The recent by-poll was necessitated by the untimely death of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who passed shortly after winning the Assembly seat in 2024. In his place, the BJP fielded his daughter, Devyani Rana, an Economics graduate from the University of California. She campaigned on a platform of professional and inclusive development.
Shamim Begum from the National Conference (NC), a current District Development Council member, relied on her grassroots connections and the strength of her party framework. Former minister Harshdev Singh, contesting in Nagrota for the first time, presented himself as an “alternative voice” to voters. Independent Anil Sharma, a former Sarpanch, focused on garnering local support based on welfare assurances.
The bright weather prompted long queues at several polling stations following their opening at 9 AM. Voters at the Kol Kandoli polling station expressed their intent to cast ballots as a means to “continue the pace of development in the Nagrota area.”
Examining the broader political context, Nagrota has oscillated between the BJP and NC in the last five elections since 1996. The BJP claimed victory in 2002, 2008, and 2024, while the NC succeeded in 1996 and 2014. Notably, the Congress party did not field a candidate this time, distancing itself from NC’s campaign despite being alliance partners at the Union Territory level.
The by-poll along with another in Budgam aims to fill vacancies in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which currently has 88 sitting MLAs. The vacancies arose from Devender Singh Rana’s death and the resignation of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who vacated Budgam after retaining Ganderbal.
