The election race for the Nagrota assembly seat in Jammu wrapped up on Sunday evening with ten candidates in the fray. With polling set for November 11, the contest is drawing keen attention, especially among the main contenders from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and J&K National Panthers Party.
Final push and candidate appeal
Campaigning formally ended at 6 pm as the model code of conduct came into full effect, with the electorate of around 97,893 registered voters in Nagrota readying for the by‐poll conducted across 150 polling stations. The seat fell vacant after the death of the sitting BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana last year.
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The BJP candidate, Devyani Rana (daughter of the late Devender Rana), wrapped up her campaign with a message focused on “trust and service” and pledged to carry forward her father’s vision of development in Nagrota. Opposition contender Shamim Begum from the National Conference emphasised that her party’s record of public service laid the groundwork for future progress in the seat.
Meanwhile, Harsh Dev Singh of the J&K National Panthers Party contested on the theme of choosing “merit over emotion” and holding the next MLA accountable.
Election dynamics and what to watch
Nagrota is poised to become a focal point of regional politics. Historically, the BJP has secured this seat three times since 1996, including in 2008 and 2024, while the National Conference won it in 1996 and 2014. The late Devender Singh Rana triumphed in 2024 by a margin of over 30,000 votes, as per polling data.
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With campaigning done, election officials now shift focus to ensuring a peaceful poll on November 11 and a result announcement on November 14. Analysts will monitor turnout, especially in rural pockets, and how the legacy of the former MLA and local development issues play out. The significance of this by-poll goes beyond the constituency, and it’s seen as a barometer of voter mood in the Jammu region.
