BJP’s Devyani Rana breaks new ground with Nagrota bypoll victory in Jammu and Kashmir

J&K sets a new record for women’s political representation as Devyani Rana claims the Nagrota seat

November 14, 2025

For the first time ever, Jammu and Kashmir will have four elected women legislators after BJP’s Devyani Rana wins the Nagrota bypoll

Devyani Rana’s Nagrota win raises women’s representation in J&K assembly to historic high

BJP leader Devyani Rana on Friday broke new ground by winning the Nagrota assembly bypoll, making Jammu and Kashmir home to four elected women legislators for the first time in its political history.

Rana’s victory marks a significant shift in a region where women’s representation has traditionally remained minimal. Until now, the J&K assembly had never elected more than three women MLAs—achieved in the elections of 2008, 2014, and again in 2024.

Women’s share rises to 4.44%

In the earlier years, women accounted for just 3.4% of the 87-member House during the 2008 and 2014 polls. After delimitation in 2022 increased the number of seats to 90, female representation dipped slightly to 3.33%.

Devyani Rana’s decisive win from Nagrota has now pushed that figure to 4.44%, marking the highest-ever female presence in the legislative assembly.

Meet the four women MLAs

With Rana joining the assembly, the House now includes:

Sakina Masood Ittoo (National Conference) — Cabinet minister and MLA from D H Pora, Kulgam.
Shamima Firdous (National Conference) — Three-time MLA representing the Habbakadal constituency in Srinagar.
Shagun Parihar (BJP) — First-time MLA from the Kishtwar segment.
Devyani Rana (BJP) — Newly elected MLA from Nagrota.

Ittoo, Firdous, and Parihar had already diversified the House earlier this year, and Rana’s entry now sets a new benchmark for women’s political participation in Jammu and Kashmir.

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