Nine Crorepatis, Three Facing Criminal Cases Among 17 Candidates in Budgam Bypoll
Srinagar: Of the 17 candidates whose nominations have been accepted for the Budgam Assembly bypoll, nine are crorepatis, three face criminal cases, and only eight have studied beyond Class 12.
A total of 20 candidates had filed nominations for the November 11 by-election, but only 17, including seven independents, were found valid after scrutiny.
Among them, National Conference (NC) candidate Aga Syed Mehmood has emerged as the richest, with total assets exceeding ₹15 crore. A businessman and former minister, Mehmood has declared ₹28.02 lakh in movable assets and ₹15 crore in immovable assets, which include agricultural, commercial, and residential properties in Budgam. He also has liabilities of ₹97.69 lakh, mainly loans against property, and reported an annual income of ₹52 lakh for 2024–25.
Apni Party nominee Mukhtar Ahmad ranks second with assets worth ₹9 crore and liabilities of ₹6.59 crore.
Other crorepati candidates include independents Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat, Muntazir Mohi-ud-Din, Nazir Khan, and Aditi Sharma; BJP’s Aga Syed Mohsin; National Panthers Party (Bhim)’s Farooq Ahmad; and Republican Party of India’s Pervez Ahmad — all of whom have declared assets above ₹1 crore.
In contrast, PDP candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi has disclosed just ₹2.37 lakh in bank deposits and no immovable property, making him one of the least wealthy in the fray.
Two other candidates have assets under ₹1 lakh — independent Jibran Dar, who declared ₹60,000 in cash and liabilities of ₹5.19 lakh, and Manzoor Ahmad of Rashtriya Lok Dal, with ₹30,000 in cash and ₹22,400 in liabilities.
In terms of education, five candidates hold postgraduate or higher degrees, including independent Maqbool Bhat, who has a PhD in Astrophysics. Two candidates are engineers, one holds an MBA, and another an LLM. Three have studied up to Class 12, two till Class 10, and two till Class 8.
Most candidates have a clean record, but three face criminal cases. Apni Party’s Mukhtar Ahmad is accused in a cheating case, BJP’s Aga Syed Mohsin faces charges of assault and obstructing a public servant, and independent Jibran Dar has been booked under Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act.
The Budgam bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated the seat, opting to retain Ganderbal, his family’s traditional stronghold.
Scrutiny of nominations took place on Wednesday, while Friday is the deadline for withdrawal of candidature.
