Big loss for Omar Abdullah's party; PDP wins Budgam seat
What's the story
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has suffered a major defeat in the bypolls. The party lost both seats it contested, including Budgam, a traditional stronghold since 1962. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazi Mehdi won the Budgam seat with 21,576 votes, while JKNC's Aga Syed Mahmood Al-Mosvai came second with 17,098 votes.
Internal rift
NC's loss in Budgam attributed to internal dissent
The JKNC's defeat in Budgam has been attributed to internal dissent within the party. National Conference MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhulla, did not campaign for Al-Mosvai due to his differences with Abdullah. This decision was seen as a clear signal of his dissatisfaction with the Omar Abdullah-led government. Ruhullah has represented Budgam thrice in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, and his absence was perceived as a setback for JKNC.
Voter shift
PDP's victory in Budgam signals shift in voter sentiment
The JKNC's loss in Budgam may lead to a major reassessment of its policies and strategies. The party had accused the NC-led government of failing to deliver on development and governance commitments. Mehbooba Mufti, president of the PDP, criticized the NC for treating Budgam as a political outpost during elections without addressing local concerns effectively.
Nagrota loss
NC also loses Nagrota seat to BJP
The JKNC also lost the Nagrota bypoll, with its candidate Shamim Begum securing only 10,872 votes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained the Nagrota seat, with Devyani Rana winning 42,350 votes. The by-election was necessitated after the death of Devyani's father, veteran politician Devinder Singh Rana. The seat has been a BJP bastion since 2014 but has also been held by the National Conference in the past.