BJP Announces Candidates for Bypolls Across J&K, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Telangana

October 15, 2025

Srinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday announced its candidates for the upcoming by-elections to the Nagrota and Budgam Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Odisha and Telangana.

According to a BJP spokesperson, Devyani Rana will contest from Nagrota in the Jammu division, while Aga Syed Mohsin has been nominated for the Budgam seat in the Kashmir division.

For Jharkhand’s Ghatsila district Shri Babulal Soren has been nominated.

Jay Dhalokia will contest for Odisha’s Naupada district and Lankala Deepak Reddy will contest  for Telangana’s Jubilee Hills.

The Nagrota seat fell vacant following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024. He had secured victory for the BJP in the 2024 Assembly elections.
Devyani Rana, the BJP’s nominee, is the daughter of the late Devender Singh Rana.

Budgam Seat Vacant After Omar Abdullah’s Resignation

The Budgam constituency became vacant when National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah, who had won from both Budgam and Ganderbal in the 2024 polls, resigned from Budgam to retain Ganderbal in the 90-member J&K Assembly.

While the BJP has finalized its candidates, other political parties are yet to announce their nominees for these two seats.

However, Mohiuddin Muntazir, chief spokesperson of the Apni Party led by Syed Altaf Bukhari, has announced his decision to quit the party and contest the Budgam bypoll as an Independent.

Polling on November 11, Counting on November 14

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has scheduled polling for November 11 and counting for November 14.

These bypolls will be closely watched, as both seats hold symbolic and strategic significance for the major political parties in the Union Territory.

Political Landscape After 2024 Elections

In the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the National Conference (NC) emerged as the single largest party, winning 42 seats, followed by the BJP with 29, Congress with 6, PDP with 3, Aam Aadmi Party with 1, CPI(M) with 1, Awami Ittehad Party with 1, and Peoples Conference with 1.
Additionally, six Independents also won, all of whom later joined the NC.

The Congress extended outside support to the Omar Abdullah-led NC government, ensuring a stable administration without formally joining the coalition.

Rajya Sabha Elections Announced After Four Years

In a parallel development, the Election Commission has also announced elections for four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir — the first since February 2021, when the region’s Legislative Assembly was dissolved.

The National Conference has nominated four candidates for these seats, while the BJP is fielding candidates for three.