The Nagrota Assembly constituency recorded an impressive 75.08 percent voter turnout in today’s by-election, with polling passing off peacefully across all 150 polling stations, according to the Election Commission. The by-poll, held on November 12, 2023, saw participation from notable candidates including BJP’s Devyani Rana and NC’s Shamim Begum.
Counting of votes will occur on November 14, determining the fate of candidates seeking a mandate to represent the constituency. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Verma emphasized that the election day witnessed “completely peaceful and smooth polling.” He noted that voters expressed satisfaction with the facilities provided, including wheelchairs, drinking water, and effective queue management.
Officials reported minor technical issues with one or two Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which were promptly replaced, allowing polling to resume without any disruptions. Such efficiency underscores the preparedness of the election machinery in the region.
Turnout figures remained strong, approaching the voter engagement seen during the 2024 Assembly election, where 77.66% turnout had been recorded. In that election, BJP’s Devender Singh Rana had notably won with 48,113 votes, followed by NC’s Joginder Singh with 17,641 votes. Current estimates suggest a similar number of votes cast this time, with the revised electorate being around 98,000 voters.
Security arrangements were robust, including heavy deployment of paramilitary and police personnel at sensitive locations. Observers from the Election Commission, including General, Police, and Expenditure observers, monitored activities across multiple booths to ensure integrity in the polling process. After the polls concluded at 6 PM, the EVMs were securely shifted to strong rooms, where they will remain under constant surveillance until counting day.
Innovations in the electoral process marked this by-election, as presiding officers utilized the ‘Presiding Officer App’ to upload booth-wise turnout data in real-time. This advancement under the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform reduced reporting delays and minimized human error, enhancing the overall efficiency of the polling process.
The need for this by-election arose following the unexpected death of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who had passed away shortly after winning the Assembly seat in 2024. The BJP fielded his daughter, Devyani Rana, an Economics graduate from the University of California, who campaigned on a platform of inclusive development. NC’s Shamim Begum, a sitting DDC member, leaned on her grassroots connections, while former minister Harshdev Singh, contesting Nagrota for the first time, promoted himself as an alternate voice. Independent Anil Sharma, with a background as a former Sarpanch, leaned on local support.
Voters showed enthusiasm as long queues formed at polling booths with the sunny weather encouraging turnout. Many voters at Kol Kandoli polling station expressed their desire to participate in the democratic process and emphasized their support for developmental initiatives in the Nagrota area.
The political landscape in Nagrota remains competitive, having oscillated between the BJP and NC across the last five elections since 1996. BJP emerged victorious in 2002, 2008, and 2024, while NC clinched wins in 1996 and 2014. Notably, the Congress chose not to field a candidate this time and did not engage in the NC campaign, despite being alliance partners at the Union Territory level.
The Nagrota and Budgam by-polls will fill two vacancies among the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, currently housing 88 sitting MLAs. These vacancies arose due to Devender Singh Rana’s death and the resignation of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who vacated Budgam after retaining Ganderbal.
