BUDGAM, Nov 14: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi has won the Budgam Assembly by-election, securing victory with a margin of 4,479 votes after all 17 rounds of counting, officials announced on Thursday.
Mehdi’s win marks a significant setback for the National Conference (NC), which failed to hold on to one of its traditional strongholds. Contributing to the NC’s poor performance was the conspicuous absence of support from its own Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah —who hails from Budgam and commands a strong local base. The MP openly distanced himself from campaigning for the NC candidate, accusing the party leadership of “U-turns” on key electoral promises and failing to stand by its stated principles, including on sensitive issues such as Reservation.
Political observers say the internal discord within the NC, combined with growing public discontent over what is seen as the party’s shifting positions, has accelerated the erosion of its support base in central Kashmir.
Another significant factor in the electoral outcome was independent candidate Jibran Dar, who secured over 7152 votes, and whose presence in the contest is believed to have split votes that might otherwise have gone to the NC. Dar’s performance, analysts note, played a meaningful role in upsetting the NC’s prospects and further underscored the party’s weakening grip in the region.
