NC loses stronghold in Central Kashmir as PDP clinches Budgam seat
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi Friday handed over a crushing defeat to the National Conference candidate from the Budgam Assembly segment in the central Kashmir after a gap of more than four decades.
After 1972, for the first time, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) lost its ancestral stronghold in central Kashmir. The Congress party had won the seat in 1972.
Mehdi secured 21,576 votes, defeating JKNC’s Aga Syed Mehmood by a commanding margin of 4,478 votes, who polled 17,098.
The victory catapults PDP’s strength in the 90-member J&K Union Territory Assembly from 3 to 4 MLAs, while the ruling JKNC—despite retaining a comfortable majority—drops to 41 seats.
Independent candidate Jibran Dar stunned political observers by finishing a strong third with 7,152 votes, effectively playing spoiler and splitting anti-NC votes in a manner that sealed the ruling party’s fate.
PDP’s resurgence: From 3 to 4 MLAs
With Mehdi’s win, the PDP now commands 4 seats in the Assembly, its first gain since the 2024 elections that reduced the party to a historic low of three MLAs. The victory breathes new life into PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s leadership, who personally led an aggressive 10-day campaign blitz across Budgam’s villages, from Chadoora to Beerwah.
“Budgam has rejected dynastic arrogance and voted for dignity. This is not just a win—it is a message to Srinagar and Delhi,” Mehbooba Mufti declared at a packed victory rally in Budgam town, flanked by PDP youth leaders and newly elected MLA Mehdi.
NC’s historic humiliation: Loses Budgam for the first time
The JKNC, which has held Budgam uninterrupted since 1977, suffered its most embarrassing defeat in the Valley’s political heartland. The seat was vacated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after he retained Ganderbal in 2024, leaving the party overconfident in fielding senior Shia leader Aga Syed Mehmood. Internal sources within JKNC revealed panic in the party’s Nawa-e-Subh headquarters: “We never imagined losing Budgam. This is worse than 2014,” a senior JKNC leader admitted anonymously.
The defeat exposes deep anti-incumbency against the Abdullah government over non-fulfillment of election promises.
PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti joined the celebrations after the party’s candidate was declared victorious by the Election Commission of India at the end of the counting.
#WATCH | Budgam, J&K | PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi wins Budgam by-elections, party Chief Mehbooba Mufti says, “I want to thank the people of Budgam for sidelining the government’s 50 MLAs and giving a chance to PDP… I will pray to god to give us the strength to stand upto the… pic.twitter.com/LyN3rX4FUC
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2025
Addressing party workers, Mehbooba Mufti said, “I want to thank the people of Budgam for sidelining the government’s 50 MLAs and giving a chance to PDP… I will pray to god to give us the strength to stand up to the expectations of the people of Budgam. Aga Muntazir Mehdi is an educated man, and people of Budgam will always be welcome at his doors. He will take care of the people of Budam…”
Her daughter, Iltija Mufti, said the people of Budgam have made the right choice.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti, reacting to the party’s victory in the Budgam bypolls, said, “It’s a historic win, not only because we captured the NC’s bastion right under their nose, but also because a sitting Chief Minister resigned expecting people to elect an MLA from his party. I believe the people of Budgam have given a strong and befitting response to the NC’s arrogance, their inefficiency, and their complete failure to fulfil the promises made to them.”
VIDEO | Srinagar (J&K): PDP leader Iltija Mufti, reacting to the party’s victory in the Budgam bypolls, said, “It’s a historic win, not only because we captured the NC’s bastion right under their nose, but also because a sitting Chief Minister resigned expecting people to elect… pic.twitter.com/6LeXYwO0Uy
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 14, 2025
Jibran Dar: The Dark Horse who changed the game
Jibran Dar, a 34-year-old political novice and local businessman, emerged as the X-factor. Campaigning on a hyper-local agenda of “Budgam First,” Dar mobilized youth and first-time voters through social media and door-to-door outreach.
His 7,152 votes—nearly 15% of total valid votes—came largely from NC’s traditional base in Beerwah and Narbal, directly eating into Mehmood’s margin.
“People wanted change. I gave them a choice beyond red and green,” Dar told reporters after the results, hinting at forming a Budgam Citizens Forum to hold the new MLA accountable.
BJP’s continued irrelevance in the Valley
Though not a major contender, the BJP candidate finished at number six, securing under 3,000 votes—a damning indictment of the party’s zero traction in Muslim-majority Kashmir despite aggressive outreach post-2019.
Victory celebrations & security
PDP workers burst firecrackers and distributed sweets outside Mehdi’s residence in Wahabpora till late at night. Police deployed additional forces to prevent clashes, though celebrations remained peaceful.
“This is the people’s victory. Budgam will now speak in the Assembly,” Mehdi told cheering crowds, raising a green PDP flag.
PDP candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi said that voters have opted for accountability and change in the constituency. “The people have voted for change and accountability,” he said, adding that Budgam district, which he said had been ignored over the past year, will now be represented effectively in the Assembly.
The PDP’s campaign gained momentum amid internal divisions within the NC.
Senior Shia leader and former three-time MLA and now MP Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi had publicly refused to campaign for the NC candidate, citing delays in implementing the Reservation Sub-Committee report, issues with smart electricity meters, and perceived backtracking on statehood and Article 370.
Ruhullah requested that his name or image not be used in the NC campaign. Party workers celebrated the win across Budgam soon after the results were announced.
In Nagrota, BJP candidate Devyani Rana defeated Harsh Dev Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) by a margin of over 21,000 votes.
The NC candidate, Shamim Begum, finished third with just over 10,000 votes. Devyani Rana, the daughter of late MLA Devender Singh Rana, entered politics following her father’s death on October 31, 2024. Her victory marks the BJP’s continued presence in the Jammu region.
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1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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