NC Fields Shamim Begum as Congress Sacrifices Seat to Defeat BJP
NC fields DDC member as Congress prioritizes defeating BJP.
National Conference (NC) has named District Development Council (DDC) member Shamim Begum as its candidate for the Nagrota assembly constituency, set to vote on November 11, 2025. The decision comes after the Indian National Congress (INC) made a strategic move to forego contesting the seat, despite being offered it by its coalition partner NC, in a bid to achieve the "larger goal" of defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the region. The NC-Congress alliance, which jointly contested the 2024 assembly elections, has faced tensions recently, particularly over seat-sharing disputes for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on October 24, 2025. The NC’s refusal to offer Congress a safe Rajya Sabha seat had sparked friction, but the Congress’s decision to step back from Nagrota signals a pragmatic effort to maintain coalition unity and focus on a common enemy: the BJP.
Shamim Begum, who secured a DDC seat from Nagrota’s Dansal block in December 2020, expressed gratitude to the NC leadership for entrusting her with the candidacy. “The people of Nagrota know me and my work over the past four years as a DDC member,” Begum told PTI. “I am confident they will support me to represent them in the assembly.” Her nomination papers were filed shortly after the announcement, with NC Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta confirming the party’s mandate.
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The Nagrota bypoll was triggered by the passing of BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024. Rana, a prominent figure who won the seat in 2024 with a staggering margin of 30,472 votes, had previously represented Nagrota on an NC ticket in 2014 before switching to the BJP in 2021. His daughter, Devyani Rana, is now the BJP’s candidate, joined by Harsh Dev Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP-I), both of whom filed nominations on October 18, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Budgam constituency, also slated for bypolls on November 11, became vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chose to retain his family stronghold of Ganderbal, having won both seats in the 2024 elections. The NC has fielded senior leader Agha Syed Mehmood for Budgam, signaling a robust campaign to solidify its influence.
The Congress’s decision to cede Nagrota to the NC followed extensive deliberations, as explained by JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma. “After reviewing a detailed JKPCC report and considering the NC’s second-place finish in Nagrota during the 2024 elections, the INC central leadership opted to prioritize coalition principles and the shared objective of defeating the BJP,” Sharma stated. This move underscores the coalition’s determination to present a united front despite earlier disagreements.
NC vice-president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attempted to downplay the rift, stating on October 16, 2025, that the NC was open to supporting a Congress candidate in Nagrota if they presented a stronger contender. “We have no objection to compromising for the sake of the alliance,” Abdullah remarked, signaling flexibility.
With nominations closing on October 20, 2025, scrutiny of applications set for October 22, and withdrawals permitted until October 24, the stage is set for a high-stakes electoral battle. The 2024 Nagrota results, where NC’s Joginder Singh secured 17,641 votes and Congress’s Balbir Singh trailed with 5,979, highlight the challenge ahead for Begum as she faces Devyani Rana in a constituency with a strong BJP legacy. Will the NC-Congress coalition’s strategic gamble pay off, or will the BJP hold its ground? The outcome promises to reshape Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
Also Read: J&K Congress Walks Out of Rajya Sabha Contest Over Denial of ‘Safe Seat’ by NC
