JK News Today
It is a little over a week before Nagrota constituency in Jammu district will go to polls – a bye-election forced by tragic death of MLA Devender Singh Rana elected in October last year . Within a week of his taking oath in October last year, he breathed his last. Devender was not just an MLA, but a phenomenon, the parallel of which Jammu had not seen for over decades – the man with deep connect with people cutting across party lines and communities.
Rana gave a sense of identity to the people of Jammu – invoked their traditional and cultural values. Now the fight over his legacy is on in the bye-elections. His eldest daughter Devyani Rana is the natural inheritor of her father’s goodwill spread over the entire expanse of Jammu region. She is representing it in the electoral battle in Nagrota. Ironically, her main rival National Conference is also whispering to the voters that Rana was their man – Rana had started his career in politics with National Conference. He was elected MLC in 2007 and 2013 and contested and won 2014 Assembly poll from Nagrota in 2014.
A survey done by JK News Today team that tracked villages , hamlets and markets to gauge the mood of the electorate discovered that Devyani Rana was far ahead of her rivals – Shameem Begum of National Conference and Harshdev S9ngh of Panthers Party , and independents in the fray . Devyani Rana’s only contribution to brighten her prospects is that she has moved around, met and interacted with the people – and the people were more than willing to welcome her because of the work and groundswell of her father . She was seen as mirror image of Devender Rana.
It is because of Rana that she stands much above the line of her rivals. BJP, as such is a divided house because of the frustration and anger of party ticket aspirants – Nand Kishore, brother of Jammu M P Jugal Kishore, and Anil Sharma. Nand Kishore has been persuaded to accept the party decision; Anil Sharma is contesting as an independent.
The balance is clearly tilted toward Devyani – one, she is daughter of Devender Rana whose life, times and expressions favouring Jammu have assumed legendary proportions. Second, it is because of her party- BJP, which is all-time favourite of Jammu Hindus. The community has voted en-masse for the saffron party in Parliamentary to Panchayat elections. But, few sections of Brahmins have started seeing themselves in the caste frame of Brahmins versus Rajputs. It is because Devyani, a novice in politics doesn’t have the charisma, experience and appeal like her father. She is perceived to be surrounded by a coterie in which Brahmins find themselves out of it. Nand Kishore and Anil Sharma have also stoked the caste concerns.
Harshdev Singh had also started working in the constituency soon after the death of Devender. After having lost a series of elections in the past since 2008, he is eyeing to stay relevant in the political arena. He is banking on Thakkar Rajput votes ( numbering around 7,000-8,000) and his supporters are relaying the work he had done for his original constituency – Ramnagar as an MLA and Minister. He is using anti-BJP card and the party’s “ betrayal “ of Jammu .
About 10,000 Brahmin votes are expected to go in favour of Anil Sharma because of the work he has done as Sarpanch and leader of Panchyat Conference .Anil Sharma is banking on caste factor as also the work he has done .. He is playing victim card . He is making a case that hardcore party worker was denied ticket while it was given to a novice – calling it politics of SRO 43, a term that applies to the children who get job of parents on their death .
National Conference has a solid base . It was thrown into the contest by Congress on the plea that its candidate last time had ended as a runners up with second highest number of votes in 2024 elections , is banking on Muslim votes . It is also hoping to get votes of other castes , using the card of their being ruling party in J&K, moreover, it also has started campaign recalling that the party had won this seat in 1996 – Ajatshatru Singh , then in 2014 –Devender Singh Rana . The party has its base in the constituency but over the years it has suffered erosion.
With NC in fray , it is advantage Devyani , as the party candidate being Muslim will stall Harshdev’s chances of getting Muslim votes . More over the Muslim candidate has polarized Hindu votes . They are keen to vote for party that espouses their cause and with which they associate themselves . NC candidate is a good omen for Devyani.
