Devyani Rana Wins Nagrota Seat by 24,522 Votes, Bags 42,183 Ballots

Jammu Tawi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Devyani Rana won the Nagrota Assembly by-election with a sweeping margin, securing 42,183 votes in the decisive 11th and final round of counting.

Her emphatic victory by 24,522 votes ensured the BJP retained the crucial Jammu district seat, which fell vacant after the passing of her father and veteran leader Devinder Singh Rana in October last year.

The November 11 bypoll, held amid tight security, witnessed robust voter participation with a turnout of 75.08% — slightly lower than the 77.66% recorded in the 2024 Assembly elections.

Nagrota, a BJP stronghold since 2014 but historically contested between the saffron party and the National Conference, saw Devyani benefit from a strong sympathy wave and the enduring goodwill associated with her father.

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (India) president and former minister Harsh Dev Singh, a three-time MLA, finished a distant second with 17,661 votes, putting up a spirited yet ultimately unsuccessful fight in the triangular contest.