Campaign drums fall silent
Srinagar, Nov 9: The high-stakes campaigning for the Budgam and Nagrota Assembly by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Sunday evening, with candidates making their final appeals to voters ahead of polling on November 11.
A total of 27 candidates are in the fray - 17 in Budgam and 10 in Nagrota.
As many as 1.26 lakh electors are eligible to vote in Budgam and 97,893 in Nagrota.
The bypolls were necessitated by the resignation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the Budgam seat, which he vacated after retaining Ganderbal in the 2024 Assembly elections, and by the death of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who had been re-elected from Nagrota.
In Budgam, the contest has taken an interesting turn following a rift within the National Conference (NC).
NC MP and former MLA Budgam, Aga Syed Ruhullah, has refused to campaign for the NC’s candidate, Aga Syed Mahmood, citing differences with the leadership.
CM Omar and his Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani joined Mahmood in a roadshow that passed through several areas of the constituency on the last day of campaigning, urging voters to support continuity and development.
“I have heard Ompora’s voice. The electricity issues are being fixed, and the road to Ompora is now declared NH-44A. Together, we are bringing real change, not just promises,” CM Omar said at a roadside meeting in Ompora.
Former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti also held a roadshow in support of her party’s candidate, Aga Syed Muntazir.
“Budgam has voted for the National Conference since 1977. They ruled for decades, but what did they deliver? It’s time for a change. It’s time to give PDP a chance,” she told a gathering.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also campaigned aggressively for its candidate, Aga Syed Mohsin, with senior leaders, including the Leader of Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma, canvassing across Budgam.
The Aam Aadmi Party fielded Deeba Khan, while Nazir Ahmad Khan of the Awami Ittehad Party, and several independents, including Muntazir Mohiuddin and Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, have made the contest a multi-cornered one.
Budgam has long been considered an NC stronghold, represented by Syed Aga Ruhullah for three terms before Omar Abdullah’s 2024 win.
However, the dissent within the NC and the entry of multiple prominent candidates have made this bypoll a crucial test of the party’s strength in central Kashmir.
In Nagrota, the campaign concluded with all 10 candidates making their last push for support.
The contest is shaping up as a triangular fight between BJP’s Devyani Rana, NC’s Shamim Begum, and J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) President Harsh Dev Singh.
The BJP’s campaign was led by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, J&K BJP President Sat Sharma, and senior party leaders who held multiple rallies across the constituency.
Devyani Rana, daughter of the late Devender Singh Rana, said her political journey was inspired by her father’s vision of a “progressive Nagrota.”
“This election is not just about politics; it is about trust and service. I will dedicate myself to the welfare of every section of society,” she said.
NC candidate Shamim Begum, supported by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and senior NC leaders, urged voters to continue the “developmental legacy” initiated by the NC government. “We will build upon that legacy and strengthen public services and empowerment,” she said.
Meanwhile, Harsh Dev Singh appealed to voters to “choose merit over emotion,” promising accountable governance and genuine progress.
Since 1996, Nagrota has alternated between the NC and BJP, with the BJP securing three victories (2002, 2008, and 2024) and the NC winning twice (1996 and 2014).
An official at the election office confirmed that campaigning concluded peacefully at 6 pm on Sunday.
Polling for both constituencies will take place on Tuesday, November 11, with counting scheduled for November 14.
Meanwhile, the Budgam district magistrate has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita across the district from 6 pm on November 9 to 6 pm on November 11, marking the start of the election silence period.
All unlawful assemblies, public meetings, rallies, and election-related gatherings are banned under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to ensure peaceful polling, the order read.
