Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly bypoll results were announced on Friday, with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winning the Budgam seat and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retaining Nagrota.
In Budgam, PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi defeated National Conference (NC) candidate Aga Syed Mehmood by over 4,186 votes. The high-stakes constituency saw 17 contenders, including candidates from the Apni Party and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP). Mehdi said the mandate reflected people’s desire for “change and accountability,” adding that Budgam—“ignored for the past year”—would now get effective representation.
The PDP’s prospects strengthened amid internal discord within the NC. Senior Shia leader and Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi declined to campaign for the NC nominee, citing delays in implementing the Reservation Sub-Committee report, issues with smart power meters, and concerns over the party’s stance on statehood and Article 370. He also asked that his name and image not be used in the campaign. Celebrations broke out across Budgam soon after the result.
In Nagrota, BJP’s Devyani Rana defeated Harsh Dev Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) by over 21,000 votes. NC candidate Shamim Begum finished third with just over 10,000 votes. Devyani, daughter of late MLA Devender Singh Rana, entered politics after his death on October 31, 2024, and her win strengthens the BJP’s foothold in the Jammu region.
The Budgam bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had won both Ganderbal and Budgam in 2024 and chose to retain Ganderbal. The Nagrota bypoll followed the passing of Devender Singh Rana.
