The Congress party has kick started its preparations for the upcoming by-election in the Nagrota assembly constituency, which fell vacant following the demise of BJP MLA Devendra Singh Rana.
While the election date is yet to be announced, the political maneuvering has already begun, with the Congress setting up its office in the constituency and weighing potential candidates.
Details available reveal that the 2024 assembly elections, Congress had fielded local Sarpanch Balbir Singh, who lost the seat to BJP’s Devendra Singh Rana.
Singh had secured only 5,979 votes, while National Conference (NC) candidate Jogendra Singh garnered 17,641 votes. The late BJP leader emerged victorious with a commanding 48,113 votes.
Former minister and ex-MLA Balwan Singh, who won the seat in 1983, has now emerged as a strong contender for the Congress ticket. Another key factor in the electoral battle is the late Devendra Singh Rana’s daughter, who is being considered a frontrunner for the BJP’s ticket.
The bigger question looming over the by-election is whether NC and Congress will once again contest separately or field a joint candidate. In the 2024 assembly elections, both parties had a pre-poll alliance but fought a “friendly contest,” leading to a split in votes. Collectively, they secured around 25,000 votes, indicating that a united front could pose a strong challenge to the BJP.
Sources told that the National Conference is yet to decide whether to contest the seat, given Devendra Singh Rana’s long association with the party before switching to the BJP. Rana was once a close confidant of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, making NC’s decision on whether to contest or support Congress crucial in shaping the electoral dynamics.
Congress has intensified its groundwork, with senior party leaders actively engaging with workers in Nagrota. A public meeting is expected soon, featuring top leaders, as the party aims to consolidate its support base. Meanwhile, J&K Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra is in Jammu, strategizing with local leaders to strengthen the party’s position in the constituency—(KNO)
