Congress steps aside for NC in Nagrota bypolls to achieve ‘larger goal’ of defeating BJP
Jammu, Oct 20: The Congress party has decided not to contest the Nagrota assembly by-election in Jammu and Kashmir, allowing its ally, the National Conference (NC), to field a candidate in order to “realise the larger goal” of defeating the BJP.
Both parties had contested last year’s assembly elections together, but tensions arose after the NC declined to offer the Congress a safe seat for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled on October 24. Bypolls for Nagrota and Budgam constituencies are set for November 11.
The by-election in Nagrota was necessitated following the demise of BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana on October 31 last year, while the Budgam seat became vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah retained his Ganderbal seat.
JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said the decision was made “keeping in view the larger interests and goals of defeating the BJP.” He added that the choice came after detailed deliberations and consideration of the fact that the NC had emerged second in Nagrota in the 2024 assembly polls.
NC vice-president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah earlier said that his party had “no objection” if Congress wanted to contest from Nagrota, adding, “If the Congress has a better candidate, we are ready to compromise and support them.”
On Sunday, the NC announced Agha Syed Mehmood as its candidate for the Budgam bypoll. Monday is the last date for filing nominations, with scrutiny scheduled for October 22 and withdrawals by October 24.
Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded Devyani Rana, daughter of late Devender Singh Rana, from Nagrota. She, along with JKNPP-I president Harsh Dev Singh, filed her nomination papers on Saturday.
In the 2024 assembly elections, Devender Singh Rana had won the Nagrota seat by a record margin of 30,472 votes, defeating NC’s Joginder Singh, while Congress candidate Balbir Singh finished third.
