By-Elections: Nagrota Records 74.82 Per Cent Turnout, Budgam Sees 50.01 Per Cent Participation

SRINAGAR: The by-elections in Jammu Kashmir witnessed robust voter participation on Tuesday, with the Nagrota Assembly segment recording an impressive 74.82 per cent turnout and Budgam registering a moderate 50.01 per cent, according to official data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Joint Chief Electoral Officer of JK, Anil Salgotra, stated that as of 7:30 p.m., the 27-Budgam Assembly constituency had recorded a 50.01 per cent turnout, while the 77-Nagrota segment saw 74.82 per cent voter participation.

He further informed that 178 votes were cast at special polling stations established for Kashmiri migrants in Jammu, Delhi, and Udhampur — with 157 votes polled in Jammu, 11 in Udhampur, and 10 in Delhi.

The Budgam constituency had 1,26,025 registered electors and 173 polling stations, while Nagrota had 97,980 electors across 150 polling stations.

A total of 27 candidates contested across both segments, previously represented by the National Conference and the BJP respectively.

Field reports suggest a close contest in Budgam between National Conference candidate Aga Mehmood and PDP’s Muntazir Mehdi. In Nagrota, BJP’s Devyani Rana is reported to hold an advantage in retaining the seat vacated after the demise of her father, Devinder Singh Rana.