J-K bypolls: NC fields DDC member as Cong leaves Nagrota to realise 'larger goal' of defeating BJP

After Congress decided not to contest from Nagrota assembly constituency to realise their 'larger goal' of defeating the BJP, the National Conference has decided to field its District Development Council (DDC) member Shamim Begum from there.

The National Conference had given the seat for the Nagrota constituency, which is going to bypolls next month, to its alliance partner, the Congress. However, the latter decided not to take up the offer.

RS polls

This bypoll is happening in the backdrop of the Congress-NC alliance ostensibly going through a rough patch, after NC refused a safe seat to the Congress for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Elections to the four Rajya Sabha seats in the Union Territory will be held on October 24.

Bypolls are scheduled for Nagrota and Budgam assembly segments on November 11.

Two seats fall vacant

A by-election was necessitated in Nagrota by the demise of BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana on October 31 last year, while the Budgam seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah retained Ganderbal -- his family's bastion -- after winning the two assembly seats.

Also read: Omar Abdullah rules out any tie-up with BJP for J-K statehood restoration

"The party leadership has given mandate to DDC member Shamim Begum from Nagrota constituency after Congress decided not to contest from there. She is filing her nomination papers from the seat within the next couple of hours," NC Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta told PTI.

Begum, who won from Nagrota's Dansal block in December 2020 DDC elections, thanked the party leadership for reposing faith and giving mandate to her to fight the by-election from her home constituency.

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"The people know me very well. They have seen my work as a DDC member over the last four years and they will support me whole-heartedly to give me a chance to represent them in the assembly," she told PTI.

Congress makes way for NC

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said the Indian National Congress has decided to leave the Nagrota assembly seat to its ally National Conference, keeping in view the larger interest and goal of defeating the BJP.

Downplaying any rift with the Congress over seat-sharing in Rajya Sabha elections, NC vice-president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that "if the Congress has a better candidate for Nagrota, we are ready to compromise (by supporting Congress and not fight the election). We have no objection".

Also read: J&K Rajya Sabha polls: Congress-NC rift aids BJP's chances

Sharma said the decision follows detailed deliberations over a JKPCC report and also after considering various factors, including that the NC had emerged second in Nagrota in 2024 assembly elections.

"Taking into account the broader parameters and principles of coalition, the INC central leadership has decided to leave the (Nagrota) seat to its ally NC, in furtherance of larger interests and goals of defeating the BJP," Sharma said in a statement.

Budgam NC candidate

On Sunday, the NC announced senior party leader Agha Syed Mehmood as its candidate for Budgam.

Monday is the last date to file nominations. The scrutiny of applications will be done by October 22 and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is on October 24.

BJP candidate

The BJP has fielded Devyani Rana, daughter of Devender Singh Rana, from Nagrota. Devyani, along with JKNPP-I president Harsh Dev Singh, filed their nomination papers from the constituency on Saturday.

Devender Singh Rana had won the seat in 2024 assembly elections by a record margin of 30,472 votes, defeating his nearest NC candidate Joginder Singh who had got 17,641 votes. Congress candidate Balbir Singh was pushed to the third position with 5,979 votes.

He won the seat in the 2014 elections on NC ticket, but later switched to BJP in 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)