India, Nov. 12 -- Nagrota/Srinagar A voter turnout of 75.08% was recorded till 5 pm in the Nagrota assembly bypoll and nearly 50% of the electorate exercised their franchise in the bypoll in the Budgam assembly constituency , as per data shared by Election Commission. The voting went peaceful with no untoward incident reported. Among a total of 10 candidates in the fray, all eyes were glued to BJP's Devyani Rana, daughter of late BJP leader Devender Singh Rana, considered a front-runner and her rivals-- NC's Shamima Begum, a DDC member from Dansal and Panthers Party India chief Harsh Dev Singh. During last year polls, the assembly constituency recorded 77.66% of voter turnout. Meanwhile, in Budgam the tentative poll percentage recorded at the end of the polling was 49.92%, officials added. Voting commenced at 7 am amid tight security across 154 polling stations, out of which 48 were pink polling stations. BJP candidate Devyani Rana, who visited polling booths, expressed confidence of securing the seat. "People of Nagrota have always accepted me and I am hopeful of my victory," she said. The constituency with 97,893 voters, where Rajputs and Gujjars have a considerable population, hold the sway. "We voted for development. We need better civic amenities," said Sunita Devi, 43, who was among early voters at Government Boys High School at Kandoli, Nagrota. Pushpa Devi, 33, another voter, said, "We need development. Our children need better education facilities. Unemployment still remains a big issue." A Gujjar, Gafoor Ahmed, 37, said, "A common man needs electricity, roads, water, health and education facilities. i have voted keeping in mind these issues." The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of former MLA Devender Singh Rana on October 31 last year due to an illness. The seat, considered as stronghold of the saffron party, has been claimed by the party thrice since 1996, while NC has won twice from here. Former education minister and three-time MLA from Ramnagar, Harsh Dev Singh is trying his luck from Nagrota seat for the first-time. Singh had won three consecutive terms in 1996, 2002 and 2008. Among six other candidates are Joginder Singh of Aam Aadmi Party and Bodh Raj of Apni Party. In Budgam, polling began at 7 am amid chilly conditions as the valley witnessed sub-zero night temperatures at most places, and ended at 6 pm. The poll percentage in the bypoll was slightly lower than last year's assembly polls of 52.27%. The Budgam assembly constituency has around 1.26 registered voters. The polls are being seen as a litmus test for chief minister Omar Abdullah's government and his party, the National Conference (NC). The bypoll was necessitated after Omar vacated the seat following his election from the family bastion of Ganderbal as well in last year's assembly polls. Budgam has been a bastion of the NC with its candidates securing victory from the constituency since 1962, barring once in 1972 when the Congress candidate won from the seat. NC Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, won from the Budgam seat in the 2002, 2008 and 2014 assembly polls, before Omar emerged victorious from here in 2024. There were 17 candidates in the fray as Aga Syed Mehmood of the ruling National Conference faces a stiff challenge from the PDP's (Peoples Democratic Party) Aga Muntazir. Besides the two Shia candidates, other key candidates include the BJP's Syed Mohsin, Awami Ittehad Party's Nazir Ahmad Khan, Aam Aadmi Party's Deeba Khan, and independent candidate Muntazir Mohiuddin.The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14....