Two Assembly constituencies of Nagrota and Budgam recorded an impressive voter turnout on Tuesday to elect their new public representatives during bypolls in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Nagrota Assembly recorded over 75 per cent voter turnout, while the politically significant Budgam segment witnessed a healthy voter turnout of over 50 per cent amid tight security arrangements.
According to the Election Commission of India, Nagrota Assembly Constituency (AC-77) registered a final turnout of over 75.08%, indicating robust participation from voters throughout the day.
In Budgam Assembly Constituency (AC-27), the final voter turnout crossed 50%, with officials noting a steady inflow of voters despite cold weather conditions in several areas.
A total of 10 candidates were in the fray in the Nagrota Assembly constituency. The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of former MLA Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024.
His 30-year-old daughter, Devyani Rana, riding on public sympathy and goodwill, is contesting on a BJP ticket.
She faces NC’s 37-year-old nominee Shamim Begum, a postgraduate in Urdu and a sitting District Development Council (DDC) member, and JKNPP president Harsh Dev Singh, a senior advocate and former education minister.
On the other hand, as many as 17 candidates were in the fray for the Budgam seat, where a bypoll was necessitated after Omar Abdullah vacated the seat, retaining Ganderbal after winning both the constituencies in the 2024 Assembly elections.
Budgam has been a bastion of the National Conference (NC), with its candidates securing victory from the constituency since 1962, barring once in 1972 when the Congress candidate won from the seat.NC Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, won from the Budgam seat in the 2002, 2008 and 2014 Assembly polls, before Abdullah emerged victorious from here in 2024.
National Conference candidate Agha Syed Mehmood is locked in a straight contest with the PDP’s (People’s Democratic Party) Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi.
