Nagrota, Budgam by-elections not to decide govt formation: CM Omar

Jammu, Nov 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday, while asserting that Nagrota and Budgam by-elections would have no impact on his government, cautioned that the electorate, however, would be benefitted if they elected ruling party candidate(s).

Both the assembly segments will go to polls on November 11, 2025.

He was addressing his maiden poll rally at Nagrota in support of party candidate Shamim Begum after the process of by-election was set in motion.

In the constituency earlier represented by late Devender Singh Rana, who was once his (Omar’s) close friend and trusted lieutenant, before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021, the Chief Minister aptly maintained a delicate balance in his address, which, even otherwise, was truncated due to technical snag in sound system.

He focused only on a single point as to how the ruling party’s MLA would serve Nagrota people in a better manner.

He did not directly mention Rana’s name. CM Omar even did not talk about the opposition candidate. He (Omar) could not get an opportunity for BJP bashing, which is the main adversary in the electoral fray.

Rana served as NC MLA from Nagrota from 2009-2014 by defeating the BJP candidate yet in the 2024 election, he defeated the NC candidate to win the seat for BJP.

Following his demise in October, 2024, a few days after his election as an MLA, the seat fell vacant. BJP fielded his daughter Devyani Rana in the by-election.

At the very outset of his very brief address, the Chief Minister explained kinds of elections and their significance.

“There are elections to the Legislative Assembly to form the government at the state (or UT) and then there are elections to the Parliament for the government formation at the Centre. Besides, there are by-elections, which are conducted when the seats become vacant either due to the resignation by a legislator or on account of his or her demise,” was the preface of the Chief Minister’s address.

“One year ago, the people of Jammu and Kashmir exercised their right to vote and elected the National Conference (NC) to form the government. Even then, the NC had fielded its candidate from Nagrota. But the Nagrota people decided otherwise. They did not opt for NC, probably focussing and acknowledging the works done (by their elected candidate) during the period of 2009-2014,” the Chief Minister recalled.

“With that perspective, they (Nagrota people) preferred to send a particular person to the Legislative Assembly as their representative. But God had some other designs. He did not allow him (elected MLA) to continue serving the people of Nagrota. And probably, within a few days after taking the oath (as the MLA), he (MLA Nagrota) left for his heavenly abode,” he remarked.

Newly elected Members of J&K Legislative Assembly took oath on October 21, 2025 in Srinagar. Rana passed away on October 31, 2025.

Further elucidating his point, CM Omar stated that the Nagrota by-election was not, in any way, connected to the government formation.

“Neither you have to elect the Prime Minister at the Centre nor have to decide about the Chief Minister in J&K. These decisions have already been taken. If BJP wins one more seat, it will not get the reins of the government. Similarly, if NC does not win this seat, it is not going to lose power. So, neither the people of Nagrota nor that of Budgam have to decide about the government formation,” he stated.

The Chief Minister said that the by-election result would not change the government in place.

“The government has already been formed and it is solidly in place. After the November 11 (by)election, this government will not change. But you have to decide the nature of your ties with the government (in place). Should your MLA be the person, who is directly associated with the government and who has good rapport with it (government)? Or do you want an MLA, who will try to serve, while being outside the government (power-circle)?” he asked.

It was at this point that a technical snag crept in the sound system, disrupting his address.

As it took time to rectify, the Chief Minister opted to address without mike and wound up hurriedly. He asked the people to elect NC candidate Shamim Begum and draw benefits to be in the ‘power circle’.

Among other prominent dignitaries present on the occasion, his (Chief Minister’s) advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, senior NC leader and former minister Ajay Sadhotra and the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Transport Satish Sharma also addressed the election rally and sought votes for Shamim Begum.