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Keen contest likely in high-stakes Nagrota

Agha Syed Mehmood named NC candidate for Budgam election

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BJP candidate Devyani Rana during an event in Jammu. ANI
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Campaigning is set to intensify for the Nagrota Assembly bypolls as the deadline for filing nominations ends on October 20. However, the Congress and the National Conference (NC) had not announced their candidates for the seat till Sunday evening.

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The bypolls for Nagrota in Jammu and Budgam in Kashmir are scheduled to be held on November 11.

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Insiders said the NC was inclined to leave the Nagrota seat to its alliance partner, the Congress, but the latter remains upset with the NC over its recent snub in the Rajya Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir, scheduled for October 24. The Congress had publicly expressed displeasure when the NC offered it what was described as an “unsafe seat” under the alliance arrangement, prompting the party to opt out of the contest.

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A Congress leader said a communication had been sent to the party high command regarding potential candidates from Nagrota. “However, no response has been received so far as the party wants to ensure the NC supports the candidate and does not repeat what happened during the Rajya Sabha nominations,” the leader said.

The Nagrota seat is expected to see a keen contest between BJP candidate Devyani Rana, daughter of former MLA Devender Singh Rana, who passed away on October 31 last year, and senior leader and former minister Harsh Dev Singh of the J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP-I).

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Devyani has been holding vigorous campaigns across the constituency along with senior party leaders. The bypolls are seen as a key test for the BJP, which has faced criticism from the NC and Congress over the issue of J&K’s statehood.

However, Devyani also draws considerable strength from the legacy of her late father, who was regarded as a popular leader across communities in the constituency.

Meanwhile, the National Conference has announced Agha Syed Mehmood as the party's candidate for the upcoming Budgam Assembly election.

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