PDP stuns NC in Budgam, ends party’s longest-standing hold since 1972

Budgam witnessed a political turning point as the PDP clinched the Assembly seat for the first time, breaking the National Conference’s uninterrupted hold over the constituency for more than fifty years. PDP’s Aga Muntazir defeated NC’s Aga Mahmood in a bypoll heavily influenced by public anger over the Omar Abdullah government’s unfulfilled promises.

The by-election was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated Budgam to retain his Ganderbal seat. Although a total of 17 candidates were in the fray, the contest remained firmly centred between the PDP and NC.

Speaking after his win, Aga Muntazir said the people had voted for “change and fairness,” adding that Budgam had long suffered from neglect and deserved genuine representation. Many voters echoed similar sentiments, pointing to unmet commitments on job creation, smart meter issues, free electricity units, subsidised LPG cylinders and a just reservation policy as reasons for shifting their support.

The NC campaign suffered an additional blow when influential Shia leader and Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah chose not to participate, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with the government’s performance. His absence further weakened NC’s reach on the ground.

For the NC, which had never lost Budgam since 1972, the defeat marks an extraordinary setback and highlights a clear mood for change among the electorate. The result signals a reshaping of political equations in central Kashmir, with the PDP gaining new ground in what was once considered an unshakable NC stronghold.