Budgam and Nagrota All Set for Bypolls Tomorrow

SRINAGAR: All arrangements are in place for the much-anticipated byelections in the Budgam and Nagrota Assembly constituencies, set to take place tomorrow, November 11.

The counting of votes will be held on November 14.

A total of 27 candidates—17 in Budgam and 10 in Nagrota—are in the fray for what are being viewed as politically significant contests shaping the balance of power in both central and Jammu regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

The byelections were triggered by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s resignation from the Budgam seat, which he vacated after retaining Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly polls, and the passing of senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana, who represented Nagrota.

Intense Battle in Budgam

The campaign in Budgam witnessed heavy political activity till the final hour. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, joined by Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, led roadshows for NC candidate Mohammad Mahmood, urging voters to “support progress and stability.”

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti canvassed for her party’s nominee Aga Syed Muntazir, while the BJP pushed a spirited campaign for Aga Syed Mohsin, with senior leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, addressing several rallies.

Other contenders include Deeba Khan (AAP), Nazir Ahmad Khan (AIP), and independents Muntazir Mohiuddin and Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, turning Budgam into a crowded electoral battlefield.

Historically a National Conference bastion, Budgam was represented for three consecutive terms by Aga Syed Ruhullah before Omar Abdullah’s victory in 2024. This time, however, internal rifts within the NC and the presence of multiple strong candidates have made the bypoll a major test of the party’s standing in central Kashmir.

Nagrota Sees Three-Way Showdown

In Nagrota, a triangular contest is expected among BJP’s Devyani Rana, NC’s Shamim Begum, and JKNPP president Harsh Dev Singh.

The BJP concluded a vigorous campaign spearheaded by Union Minister Jitendra Singh and J&K BJP chief Sat Sharma, who addressed multiple public gatherings across the constituency.

Since 1996, Nagrota has witnessed alternating victories between the BJP and NC — with the BJP securing wins in 2002, 2008, and 2024, while the NC triumphed in 1996 and 2014.

To maintain law and order, the District Magistrate of Budgam has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) from 6 p.m. on November 9 to 6 p.m. on November 11, marking the mandatory election silence period.

The order bans public rallies, gatherings, and campaign-related events under Section 163 of BNSS and Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) during the restricted hours.

Authorities have assured that all polling stations, security arrangements, and logistics are fully prepared. Voters in both constituencies will head to the polls tomorrow in what promises to be one of the most closely observed electoral battles in Jammu and Kashmir’s recent political history.