In a major setback for the ruling National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party today clinched the Budgam bypoll — only the second time since 1957 that the NC has lost this key constituency.
PDP candidate Aga Muntazir won the Budgam bypoll by a margin of 4,478 votes, delivering a significant blow to the National Conference in one of its traditional strongholds.
The by-election was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had won both Budgam and Ganderbal seats in last year’s Assembly elections, vacated Budgam to retain Ganderbal.
In bypoll results today PDP’s Muntazir secured 21,576 votes, while NC candidate Aga Mahmood finished second with 17,098 votes. BJP’s Aga Mohsin polled 2,619 votes and Independent candidate Jibran Dar secured 7,152 votes. A total of 17 candidates including seven independents were in fray.
The Budgam bypoll outcome is being viewed by many political observers as an early sign of rising “public disillusionment” with the Omar Abdullah government, driven by “unmet promises and its largely non-confrontational approach toward New Delhi”.
The anger against NC was visible in Budgam as even its influential Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah, chose not to campaign for his party’s candidate despite representing Budgam Assembly seats in the past thrice.
Budgam has always been a stronghold of the NC since its electoral history. Barring 1972, NC candidates won this seat in 1957, 1962, 1967, 1977, 1983, 1987, 1996, 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2024.
PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti thanked the people of Budgam.
“Hats off to the people of Budgam for placing their faith and trust in PDPs Aga Muntazir Sahab,” she said on X.
In a statement PDP said Budgam has delivered a verdict that cannot be sugar-coated.
“A seat held by the Chief Minister himself was rejected by the people the moment it was opened to a fair contest. This defeat is not just electoral, it is moral. It reflects people’s disillusionment with arrogance, old entitlement, and politics centred around power instead of people,” PDP said.
“The voters have reminded NC that Kashmiris cannot be taken for granted, and that legitimacy comes from service, not slogans. Budgam’s rejection is a warning that the era of unchallenged hegemony and manufactured narratives is over.”
