The Nagrota Assembly constituency witnessed a remarkable 75.08% voter turnout during the by-election held on November 14, 2023, as per the reports from the Election Commission. The polling process unfolded peacefully across all 150 stations.
Ten candidates, including prominent contender Devyani Rana from the BJP and Shamim Begum from the National Conference (NC), participated in the election. The fate of these candidates now rests in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), with vote counting scheduled for November 14.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Verma reported the day’s polling as “completely peaceful and smooth”. He visited several polling stations and noted positive voter feedback regarding the facilities available, including wheelchairs, drinking water, and effective queue management.
Election officials confirmed minor technical issues with one or two EVMs, but these were quickly resolved without disrupting the voting process.
Comparing the current by-election turnout with past performance, it closely matches the voter engagement seen in the 2024 Assembly elections when Nagrota recorded 77.66% turnout. Last year, BJP candidate Devender Singh Rana secured his seat with 48,113 votes, while NC’s Joginder Singh garnered only 17,641 votes. Congress performed poorly, with its candidate, Balbir Singh, receiving just 5,979 votes.
Officials anticipate a similar number of votes for this by-election, estimating a voter base of around 98,000, slightly higher than in previous elections.
In terms of security, authorities implemented substantial measures, deploying both paramilitary and police personnel at sensitive polling locations. Election observers monitored the process, ensuring adherence to guidelines and fair conduct.
Once polling concluded at 6 PM, the EVMs were transferred to fortified strong rooms, where they remain under continuous surveillance until the counting is finalized.
For the first time in Nagrota’s electoral history, presiding officers utilized the ‘Presiding Officer App’ to upload booth-wise voter turnout using the ECI’s Integrated ECTNet platform. This technological advancement significantly reduced reporting delays and minimized human error.
The necessity for the by-election arose following the untimely passing of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana shortly after he secured the Assembly seat in 2024, leading to his daughter, Devyani Rana, contesting on a platform emphasizing professional and inclusive development.
In stark contrast, NC’s Shamim Begum capitalized on her grassroots connections as a sitting DDC member, while former minister Harshdev Singh presented himself as an “alternative voice” in the race. Independent candidate Anil Sharma, a former Sarpanch, leaned on local support for his campaign.
Voter turnout surged post 9 AM, driven by sunny weather that attracted larger crowds at many polling booths. Residents from Kol Kandoli polling station articulated their civic duty stating their desire to continue development progress in the Nagrota region.
Historically, Nagrota has oscillated between BJP and NC victories in the last five elections since 1996. Notably, BJP won in the years 2002, 2008, and 2024, while NC claimed victories in 1996 and 2014. This election saw Congress abstaining from participation, marking a significant shift despite maintaining an alliance with NC at the Union Territory level.
This Nagrota by-poll, along with the Budgam by-poll, addresses two vacancies in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which currently comprises 88 serving MLAs. The vacancies arose due to Devender Singh Rana’s death and Omar Abdullah’s resignation from Budgam after successfully securing a seat in Ganderbal.