Devyani faces NC’s DDC Member, ex Minister
*In past 5 polls, BJP won seat thrice, NC twice
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 9: Nearly 98,000 electorates will decide fate of 10 candidates in by-election to Nagrota Assembly constituency on November 11 though the main fight remained confined among four contestants as campaigning came to an end this evening.
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Devyani Rana, daughter of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who won the seat in 2024 Assembly elections but passed away within fortnight after taking oath, has been fielded by the BJP and is being challenged by another woman Shamim Begum, a sitting District Development Council (DDC) member, who has joined the race as the ruling National Conference nominee.
Former Minister and three-time MLA from Ramnagar Harshdev Singh is also trying his luck from Nagrota seat for the first-time. Anil Sharma, an ex Sarpanch and the BJP rebel has jumped into the fray as an Independent candidate after vying for the party mandate unsuccessfully. After winning Ramnagar seat for three consecutive terms in 1996, 2002 and 2008, Harshdev lost the election in 2014 from the same segment and in 2024 from Chenani.
Among six other candidates are Joginder Singh of Aam Aadmi Party and Bodh Raj of Apni Party. Click here to watch video
For 97,893 electorates, the Election authorities have set up 150 polling stations in Nagrota constituency which has returned the BJP candidate thrice and National Conference twice in past five elections since 1996.
Ajatshatru Singh won Nagrota seat for the National Conference in 1996 while Devender Singh Rana of the same party emerged victorious in 2014. BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma, now a three-time Lok Sabha member from Jammu, wrested the seat in 2002 and retained it in 2008. Rana, who switched over to the BJP in 2021, recorded victory from Nagrota in 2024 with huge margin of over 30,000 votes.
By-poll was necessitated due to sudden demise of Rana within fortnight of taking oath as the MLA.
The Congress hasn’t fielded any candidate in Nagrota. It’s leaders also abstained from campaigning for the National Conference. In 2024 elections, both NC and Congress had fielded their candidates from Nagrota though the two parties were contesting elections in alliance with each other. Devender Singh Rana won the seat with over 30,000 votes while NC finished second and the Congress a distant third.
The BJP is confident of repeating its performance with Devyani Rana banking on the legacy of his father and works done by him in the constituency. Shamim Begum of the NC has been counting on her performance as the DDC member and cadre of the National Conference. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed a rally at Nagrota though it was cut short due to technical glitch in audio system. Other senior NC leaders also joined the campaigning.
BJP top brass from Jammu and Kashmir including Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MP, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and party’s UT chief Sat Sharma ‘CA’ also addressed rallies for the BJP nominee.
Harshdev Singh and Anil Sharma addressed rallies and carried out door-to-door campaigning. Other contestants were also seen holding corner meetings in different pockets of Nagrota.
An official in the election office said the campaigning ended peacefully at 6 pm today and now the focus would be on ensuring peaceful voting on November 11, followed by the results on November 14.
Devyani Rana said her political journey was guided by her father’s vision of a progressive Nagrota and vowed to continue his developmental initiatives.
“This election is not just about politics, it is about trust and service. I will dedicate myself to the welfare of every section of society,” she said, urging voters to turn out in large numbers on polling day.
NC nominee Shamim Begum appealed to voters to support her party’s development-oriented agenda, saying the NC Government had laid the foundation for progress in Nagrota.
“We will build upon that legacy and work to strengthen public services and empowerment,” Begum, who is a District Development Council member, said.
The NC fielded Begum after its coalition partner, Congress, declined the offer to contest the seat.
Harshdev Singh, a former Minister, called upon voters to “choose merit over emotion,” asserting that Nagrota needed a representative who could focus on genuine development and accountability.
Independent candidate Anil Sharma also held out series of promises if he is elected from the seat including donation of his entire salary for the constituency.
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