 Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 3: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rolled out an aggressive campaign strategy for the high-stakes Nagrota Assembly byelection, deploying all its senior leaders, including the presidents of various party Morchas, to ensure a resounding victory for its candidate Divyani Rana, daughter of the late Devender Singh Rana.
The byelection holds significant symbolic and political importance for the BJP, as the party seeks to retain one of its most prestigious seats in the Jammu region.
The Nagrota constituency had delivered a record-breaking victory for Devender Singh Rana in the 2024 Assembly elections, when he secured 48,113 votes against 17,641 votes polled by his nearest rival, Joginder Singh of the National Conference (NC). Rana’s winning margin of 30,472 votes was the highest recorded across Jammu and Kashmir, cementing Nagrota as a BJP stronghold.
Following his untimely demise earlier this year, the BJP has chosen his daughter, Divyani Rana, to carry forward his political legacy. The young leader, who has been active in social and community initiatives, has become the face of continuity for the party’s developmental agenda in the constituency.
To ensure a decisive win, the BJP has mobilized its entire organizational machinery in Nagrota. The newly elected Rajya Sabha member and president of the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, Sat Pal Sharma, along with Ashok Koul, the party’s general secretary (organization), has assumed direct command of the campaign. Both leaders are holding daily strategy meetings with district and mandal-level teams, focusing on booth management, voter outreach, and public connect programmes. Party insiders revealed that the campaign has been divided into multiple phases — including intensive door-to-door outreach, cluster meetings in rural areas, and targeted campaigns highlighting the BJP government’s welfare initiatives. Senior functionaries from across the Jammu division, including office-bearers from the Mahila Morcha, Yuva Morcha, and OBC Morcha, have been deputed to reinforce the grassroots campaign.
Sources said that the BJP leadership is framing the Nagrota byelection not merely as a political contest but as a tribute to Devender Singh Rana’s enduring connect with the people. His development-centric politics and strong constituency work are being projected as the foundation on which Divyani Rana seeks to build.
During recent meetings, Sat Pal Sharma emphasized that Nagrota’s voters have consistently supported the BJP’s vision of “development, stability, and empowerment” and that the byelection will once again reaffirm their trust.
“The BJP will continue to fulfill the promises made to the people of Nagrota and complete the unfinished tasks initiated by Devender Singh Rana,” Sharma said while addressing a gathering of party workers.
Ashok Koul echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the BJP’s strong organizational network at the booth level and the government’s development track record will ensure another convincing win. He directed party workers to reach every household and communicate how BJP-led governance has brought tangible changes in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and employment in the region.
The BJP’s campaign narrative focuses on “continuity, development, and commitment to people’s welfare,” while projecting Divyani Rana as a symbol of youth leadership and stability.
On the other hand, opponent parties — particularly the National Conference (NC) and the Panthers Party — are attempting to challenge the BJP’s dominance by highlighting issues of unemployment and alleged neglect of rural pockets. However, analysts believe the BJP’s strong organizational base, emotional connect with the late Devender Singh Rana’s legacy, and a well-coordinated campaign may give the party a decisive edge.
With the polling date drawing closer, Nagrota has turned into a political battleground that not only tests the BJP’s electoral machinery but also signals the emerging dynamics of Jammu politics. |
