PP NEWS LINE DESK
JAMMU, Nov 11 Nagrota and Budgam constituencies witnessed strong voter participation in Tuesday’s bypolls, with Nagrota recording a turnout of 74.63 percent and Budgam closing at 49.92 percent, according to official data.
As per voter statistics, Nagrota Assembly Constituency (AC-77) reported a final turnout of 74.63 percent, reflecting active participation from the electorate throughout the day.
In Budgam Assembly Constituency (AC-27), polling concluded with a turnout of 49.92 percent, as voters continued to arrive steadily at polling stations despite cold weather conditions in several parts of the constituency.
Polling officials said the voting process remained smooth, peaceful, and incident-free, with adequate security arrangements in place.
Seventeen candidates contested the two seats, including National Conference’s Aga Syed Mehmood, PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir, and BJP’s Aga Syed Mohsin.
The Budgam seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opted to retain his family bastion, Ganderbal, following victories in both constituencies in the 2024 Assembly polls. The by-election in Nagrota was called after the death of BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024.
Seventeen candidates were contesting from Budgam, while ten were in the fray for Nagrota seat. The by-elections are being viewed as a test of public confidence in the newly-formed Omar Abdullah government, and a measure of the BJP’s influence in the Jammu region.
Polling officials said voting remained peaceful in both constituencies, with brisk turnout reported in several areas despite sub-zero morning temperatures in parts of the Valley.
An election official said voter turnout stood at around 48.5 per cent for Budgam and 72.7 per cent for Nagrota till 5 pm.
In Budgam, voters queued early outside polling stations to cast their ballots. “Many youths from the district are languishing in jails outside J&K and we voted for their release,” said a voter from Soibugh village.
Sajad Ahmad, another voter, said they want better roads and relief from inflated power bills and “that’s what matters most to us.”
The main contest in Budgam is between JKNC’s Aga Mehmood and PDP’s Aga Muntazir, both from prominent local religious families. In Nagrota, the contest has shaped into a triangular fight between Devyani Rana of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Harsh Dev Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party-India (JKNPP-I), and Shamim Begum of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC).
Parika, a first-time voter in Nagrota, said she cast her vote “for women and youth empowerment.” Another young voter added, “People are turning out in large numbers here; it shows faith in the democratic process.”
