The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the Nagrota by-elections, scheduled to take place on November 11, 2025. The bypoll was necessitated following the sudden demise of BJP stalwart Devender Singh Rana, who had won the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections with a record margin of 30,472 votes.

Nagrota constituency now has a total of 97,893 registered voters. To ensure smooth polling, 150 polling stations have been set up — an increase from 145 during the last election. Each polling booth is equipped with essential facilities such as ramps, lighting, sanitation, and drinking water.

As per the Election Commission’s schedule, nomination papers can be filed until October 20, with scrutiny on October 22 and withdrawal of nominations by October 24. The polling day will be November 11, between 7 AM and 6 PM, while the counting of votes will take place on November 14. The entire election process is expected to conclude by November 16, as stated in the official notification.

The Nagrota Assembly seat, part of the Jammu division, has long been a BJP stronghold, with the party winning three out of the last five Assembly elections. Prominent BJP leader and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma secured victories from the constituency in 2002 and 2008, while NC’s Ajatshatru Singh won in 1996.

In 2014, Devender Singh Rana, then representing the National Conference (NC), captured the seat from the BJP. He later joined the BJP in 2021 and again triumphed in the 2024 Assembly polls, reaffirming his popularity while NC’s Joginder Singh was runner-up with 17,641 votes. Balbir Singh of Congress got 5,979 votes. Sadly, his untimely death led to the current by-election.

Read also: BJP vs NC: Rajya Sabha Elections Jammu & Kashmir

Among those in the race are Shamim Begum, the National Conference (NC) candidate and DDC Member from Dansal; Joginder Thakur from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP); and Anil Sharma, former Sarpanch and President of the J&K Panchayat Conference, who is contesting as an Independent candidate. They submitted their papers at the office of the Tehsildar Nagrota, accompanied by their respective supporters and party leaders.

Earlier, three other candidates had filed their nominations — Devyani Rana of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Harshdev Singh representing the JKNPP-I, and Bodh Raj Bhagat from the Apni Party. With these submissions, the total count of candidates now stands at six, five of whom are affiliated with political parties, while Anil Sharma remains the lone Independent contender.

Candidate Profiles: Education and Background

The candidates reflect a diverse mix of educational and professional backgrounds.

• Devyani Rana, aged 30, is the youngest among the top contenders. A graduate in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she represents the BJP and is the daughter of late BJP leader Devender Singh Rana.
• Harshdev Singh, the JKNPP-I candidate, is a seasoned politician and former Education Minister. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Jammu and completed an Advanced Course in International Humanitarian Law from Harvard University.
• Shamim Begum, the NC candidate, holds an MA in Urdu from Jammu University and currently serves as a DDC member.
• Anil Sharma, aged 52, an Independent candidate and former BJP member, completed his matriculation from Government High School Jandrah in 1989.

Assets and Financial Declarations

The financial disclosures of the candidates reveal significant contrasts.

• Net worth of Devyani Rana, declared total movable assets worth ₹91.23 lakh, including deposits in J&K Bank and HDFC Bank, and shares in Take One Television and Jamkash Trucking Pvt Ltd. She reported no land or property holdings.
• Harshdev Singh reported movable assets valued at ₹11.71 lakh and immovable assets worth ₹44 lakh, while his spouse Manju Singh declared assets exceeding ₹1.6 crore. Notably, Harshdev has three pending criminal FIRs, which he described as politically motivated.
• Shamim Begum disclosed limited financial resources, with only ₹1.03 lakh cash in hand, no bank deposits, and 27 tolas of gold valued at ₹35 lakh.
• Anil Sharma declared movable assets worth ₹28.55 lakh and immovable assets valued at ₹3.21 crore, including agricultural land in Jindrah, plots in Chinore and Roop Nagar, and commercial properties in Jammu.

Political Backgrounds and Public Perception

Devyani Rana and Harshdev Singh are seen as strong contenders backed by their parties’ organizational strength and personal reputation. Devyani’s political lineage and foreign education have brought her into the spotlight as a modern, educated representative of the BJP. Harshdev Singh, a three-time MLA, continues to maintain influence in the region despite past electoral losses.

Meanwhile, Anil Sharma, running independently, is expected to attract a section of disgruntled BJP voters, leveraging his grassroots presence and Panchayat-level credibility. Shamim Begum, representing NC, stands as a symbol of women’s empowerment and local leadership within rural Jammu.

For the BJP, a victory would reaffirm its strong base in the region and the emotional connect voters shared with late leader Devender Singh Rana.

Political analysts believe the Nagrota by-election outcome will be highly emotional, with voters likely to support BJP’s Devyani Rana due to her father’s legacy. As the countdown to November 11 begins, all eyes are on whether BJP’s Devyani Rana can uphold her father’s legacy or if her opponent manages a surprise election win.