The Nagrota Assembly constituency witnessed an impressive voter turnout of 75.08 percent during the by-election held on November 14, 2023. This surge in participation came as polling proceeded peacefully across all 150 designated polling stations, according to the Election Commission.
The fate of ten candidates—including BJP’s Devyani Rana, NC’s Shamim Begum, JKNPP-I’s Harshdev Singh, and Independent Anil Sharma—awaits counting, which will occur on November 14. The election serves as a key indicator of political dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Verma expressed his satisfaction with the smooth polling process. He noted, “The by-poll witnessed completely peaceful and smooth polling.” Verma visited several polling stations during the day and confirmed that voters appreciated the facilities offered, including wheelchairs, drinking water, and efficient queue management.
Officials acknowledged that minor technical issues occurred with one or two EVMs, but immediately resolved these without halting the voting process.
Reflecting on previous elections, the turnout closely parallels that of the 2024 Assembly elections, where Nagrota recorded a turnout of 77.66 percent. With the electorate slightly increased to around 98,000 voters, the participation this year suggests a sustained interest in local governance.
In the 2024 Assembly elections, BJP’s Devender Singh Rana emerged victorious with a commanding 48,113 votes, while NC’s Joginder Singh garnered 17,641 votes, and Congress’s Balbir Singh trailed with a mere 5,979 votes, showing the BJP’s previous electoral strength in the region.
Heavy security measures ensured a safe voting environment, with a substantial deployment of paramilitary and police personnel at sensitive locations. Election Commission observers, including those focused on general, police, and expenditure aspects, closely monitored the polling process. Senior officials also maintained a presence at various specialty polling stations.
Once voting concluded at 6 PM, officials transported the EVMs securely to strong rooms, ensuring they remain under continuous surveillance until the vote counting day.
For the first time, the election utilized technology to streamline processes, allowing presiding officers to upload booth-wise turnout data through the ‘Presiding Officer App’ under the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform. This innovation aims to minimize reporting delays and reduce the potential for human error.
This by-election arose following the untimely death of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana shortly after his victory in 2024. His daughter, Devyani Rana, an Economics graduate from the University of California, is championing a campaign centered on ‘professional and inclusive development.’
NC’s Shamim Begum, a current DDC member, has leaned on her grassroots connections and the party’s organizational strength during the campaign. Meanwhile, former minister Harshdev Singh presented himself as an alternative while Independent Anil Sharma sought local support as a former Sarpanch.
Voter engagement remained strong, with numerous polling booths experiencing long lines post-9 AM. Favorable weather encouraged greater participation, with voters at Kol Kandoli polling station expressing their desire to see continued development in the region.
Historically, Nagrota has oscillated between the BJP and NC over the past five elections since 1996, with BJP victories recorded in 2002, 2008, and 2024, while NC secured wins in 1996 and 2014. Irrespective of alliances, the Congress opted not to field a candidate in this election, refraining from supporting NC’s campaign, despite their collaborative stance at the Union Territory level.
The by-polls in Nagrota and Budgam are poised to fill two vacancies within the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which currently comprises 88 sitting MLAs. These vacancies arose from the demise of Devender Singh Rana and the resignation of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who vacated Budgam after securing Ganderbal.
