Divided by politics: Three 'Aga' candidates lock horns for Budgam bypoll

Budgam (J&K)

The bypoll for the Budgam assembly constituency successful cardinal Kashmir has go a no-holds-barred and intensely idiosyncratic governmental fight, with 3 heavyweight members of the politically almighty Shia assemblage battling it retired against each other.

The contention for the seat, vacated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah aft helium chose to clasp Ganderbal pursuing the 2024 assembly polls, is betwixt National Conference's (NC) Aga Syed Mehmood, Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, and BJP's Aga Syed Mohsin.

Mr. Mehmood, a erstwhile minister, dismissed disapproval of the NC government's archetypal twelvemonth successful power.

Demanding results of 5 years successful 12 months is "unfair", particularly fixed the complexities of a "dual powerfulness system" successful the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The dedication Omar Abdullah has shown is unparalleled and I judge nary 1 other matches his efforts," Mr. Mehmood asserted, highlighting caller authorities decisions similar the announcement of the Darbar determination and the furniture sub-committee study connected preservation being sent to the Lieutenant Governor.

On the situation from his comparative and PDP campaigner Mehdi, Mr. Mehmood said, "This is authorities and successful politics, adjacent a lad tin combat against his father... Though we stock a household bond, we beryllium to 2 antithetic parties. Let some of america bask that freedom."

On the lack of enactment MP Aga Ruhullah from the Budgam bypoll campaign, Mr. Mehmood said it "does not matter".

"He became MLA Budgam thrice and past went to Parliament. While helium has benefited from the National Conference, the party's beingness and spot spell beyond immoderate individual.

"National Conference is not a one-member party. It does not substance whether helium does oregon does not campaign, radical travel and go," Mr. Mehmood said.

Mr. Ruhullah, a well-known professional of definite policies of the NC government, has declined to run for the enactment successful the Budgam bypoll.

On Monday (October 20, 2025), the Srinagar MP took to societal media close aft Mr. Mehmood was nominated by the NC for the bypoll and said, "My loyalty is to my conscience and principles." "While I clasp respect for my elders successful my family, I petition them not to belittle my combat (our fight). If they can't comprehend it and beryllium portion of it, astatine slightest don't resistance maine and my conflict to this level," helium said successful a station connected X.

PDP's Mehdi is warring the predetermination not conscionable connected the improvement plank but besides connected what helium calls the "abandonment of radical by the National Conference".

He blamed Mr. Abdullah for betraying the radical by leaving Budgam lone a week aft vowing to clasp connected to it successful lawsuit helium won with a immense majority.

"He continued the signifier of employing the radical of Budgam arsenic a stepney, but radical are going to enactment a afloat halt to this signifier this time," Mr. Mehdi said.

The young campaigner is focusing connected section concerns similar "poisoned" water, atrocious roads and healthcare.

While acknowledging his hostile Mr. Mehmood arsenic his paternal grandfather, Mr. Mehdi insisted the contention is strictly issue-specific. "The statement should beryllium astir however the National Conference has dehumanised the radical of Budgam again and again," helium said.

The effect of the November 11 bypoll volition beryllium a "protest against the NC for making a U-turn connected its canvass promises", helium said.

The 3rd Aga successful the running, BJP's Mohsin, is pinning his hopes connected anti-incumbency against some NC and PDP.

"The National Conference has not succeeded. What person they done for Budgam till date? They ruled for 50 years... and the PDP has neglected Budgam since 2002," helium said.

He said Jammu and Kashmir witnessed improvement during the BJP's decade-long regularisation astatine the Centre.

On Mr. Mohsin's docket is younker empowerment, infrastructure improvement and constitution of industries.

"People don't attraction astir Article 370 oregon statehood, they privation improvement and jobs," helium said, claiming that the BJP would triumph the bypoll.

So far, 20 candidates person submitted their nominations for the Budgam bypoll.

During the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections past year, 66,052 of the full 1,25,394 voters exercised their franchise.