Nagrota records 75.08% turnout, Budgam 50.02% in bypolls

Amid heightened security arrangements across Jammu and Kashmir, voters turned out in large numbers on Monday to cast their ballots in the bypolls for the Nagrota and Budgam Assembly constituencies.

According to officials, Nagrota recorded a voter turnout of 75.08%, while Budgam registered 50.02%. Authorities added that the final figures may see slight revisions once all reports are compiled.

By 3 pm, Nagrota had witnessed 65.14% polling, and Budgam 42.64%, reflecting steady participation throughout the day. The bypolls were crucial contests for both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Conference (NC), which had won the respective seats in last year’s Assembly elections.

The bypolls were necessitated by separate reasons — in Nagrota, following the death of sitting MLA Devender Singh Rana, and in Budgam, due to the resignation of Omar Abdullah, who retained the Ganderbal seat.

Voting began at 7 am across 150 polling stations in Nagrota constituency of Jammu district. The polling process remained peaceful, with no untoward incidents reported.

Long queues of men and women were seen outside polling stations throughout the day. BJP candidate Devyani Rana, daughter of the late MLA Devender Singh Rana, visited several booths and expressed confidence in winning the seat.

“I am hopeful that the people of the constituency will bless me just as they blessed my father,” she told reporters after casting her vote.

Security forces had made elaborate arrangements in view of recent developments in the region. The main contest in Nagrota was between Devyani Rana (BJP), Shamim Begum (NC), and Harsh Dev Singh (J&K National Panthers Party).

In Budgam, polling began at 7 am amid bone-chilling cold in 173 polling stations. Only 21% voting was recorded till 11 am, but the turnout picked up as the day progressed, especially in the afternoon when many women voters turned up in large numbers, many wearing traditional ‘pherans’ to beat the cold.

In the 2024 Assembly elections, Budgam had recorded 51.13% polling, while Nagrota had seen 77.66%.

The Budgam contest was primarily between NC candidate Aga Syed Mahmood and PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir, though 17 candidates were in the fray.