The Nagrota Assembly constituency recorded an impressive 75.08 percent voter turnout during today’s by-election. The Election Commission reported that polling passed off peacefully across all 150 polling stations.
The fate of 10 candidates, including the BJP’s Devyani Rana, NC’s Shamim Begum, and JKNPP-I’s Harshdev Singh, now lies sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on November 14.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Verma confirmed to Daily Excelsior that the by-poll witnessed “completely peaceful and smooth polling.” He toured several polling stations during the day and noted that voters were satisfied with facilities such as wheelchairs, drinking water, and queue management.
Officials noted that one or two EVMs required replacement due to technical issues, but polling resumed without disruption, ensuring a smooth procedure.
Notably, this year’s turnout closely matches the 2024 figure, which stood at 77.66%. Last year’s election in Nagrota saw BJP’s Devender Singh Rana emerging victorious with 48,113 votes, while Congress candidate Balbir Singh received only 5,979 votes. A total of 74,083 votes were cast in the previous Assembly election.
Officials predict a similar turnout this time as well, with the revised electorate slightly higher at around 98,000 voters.
Adequate security arrangements characterized the polling day, with heavy deployment of paramilitary and police personnel at sensitive locations. Election Commission Observers, including General, Police, and Expenditure observers, visited multiple booths, ensuring transparency and integrity during the voting process.
After counting concluded at 6 PM, officials securely transported the EVMs to the strong rooms. There, they will remain under constant surveillance until the counting date.
This by-election also introduced a new technology for polling; presiding officers used the ‘Presiding Officer App’ under the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform to upload booth-wise turnout data instantly. This innovation reduced delays and minimized human reporting errors.
The need for this by-poll arose following the unexpected death of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who passed away shortly after winning the Assembly seat in 2024. The BJP nominated his daughter, Devyani Rana, an Economics graduate from the University of California, who campaigned emphasizing “professional and inclusive development.”
On the opposing side, NC’s Shamim Begum, a sitting DDC member, relied on grassroots connectivity and the strength of her party’s organization. Former minister Harshdev Singh, contesting in Nagrota for the first time, projected himself as an “alternative voice,” while Independent candidate Anil Sharma, a former Sarpanch, relied on local support and development assurances.
Voters stood in long queues at multiple polling booths after 9 AM, spurred by sunny weather. Voters at Kol Kandoli polling station expressed their intention to vote “to continue the pace of development in the Nagrota area.”
Political context is crucial as well. Nagrota has alternated victories between BJP and NC over the past five elections since 1996. The BJP won in 2002, 2008, and 2024, whilst NC secured victories in 1996 and 2014. Remarkably, the Congress party did not field a candidate this time and refrained from supporting NC’s campaign, despite their alliance at the UT level.
These by-polls in Nagrota and Budgam are vital to filling two vacancies in the 90-member J&K Assembly, which currently has 88 sitting MLAs. The vacancies occurred due to the death of Devender Singh Rana and the resignation of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who vacated Budgam after retaining Ganderbal.
