Ex-minister Harsh Dev, BJP leader Devyani file nomination papers

The Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP-I) president and former minister Harsh Dev Singh, and BJP candidate Devyani Rana on Saturday filed their nomination papers for the bypoll in the Nagrota Assembly constituency, officials said. After submitting their papers to the returning officers, both leaders addressed separate public meetings to seek voter support.

The by-elections in Nagrota and Budgam Assembly constituencies are scheduled for November 11, with counting on November 14. The last date for filing nominations is October 20, followed by scrutiny on October 22 and withdrawal of candidatures on October 24.

Harsh Dev Singh, after filing his nomination, said, “I hope the voters of Nagrota will vote on merit instead of emotions and keep in mind their future… there are no takers for divisive politics and the people of Nagrota are looking for a change. Nagrota constituency, which was represented by BJP thrice and National Conference twice since its formation in 1996, is lacking in development and needs a representative who can truly work for the betterment of the constituency.”

He added that, as a member of the India bloc, his supporters expect Congress and National Conference to back him instead of fielding any candidate locally.

The BJP has nominated Devyani Rana, daughter of Devender Singh Rana and niece of Union minister Jitendra Singh. Devender Singh Rana had won the seat for the party in 2024 Assembly elections by a record margin of 30,472 votes. He had earlier won the seat in 2014 on a National Conference ticket before joining BJP in 2021.

Accompanied by hundreds of supporters, Devyani Rana addressed a large gathering with senior party leaders including J-K BJP president Sat Sharma and opposition leader in Assembly Sunil Sharma.

She said, “I am daughter of Rana who was always there to support anyone without considering his religion, caste and creed. I will follow his footsteps and fulfil all his election promises which he could not fulfil due to his sudden demise. The people of Nagrota are my family and I have taken a pledge on the hand of my father in his last days that I will work for the betterment of the people. I am hopeful that every family in Nagrota will bless me as they blessed my father.”

On Friday, a group of BJP activists expressed discontent over the party fielding Rana’s daughter, overlooking veteran grassroots worker Nand Kishore, brother of sitting MP Jugal Kishore, who had unsuccessfully contested against Rana in 2014.