National Conference Suffers Historic Defeat in Budgam: Omar Abdullah's Party Loses Stronghold After 67 Years

The Budgam bypoll was considered the first test of Abdullah's popularity after he vacated the seat. (FILE)

In a significant setback for Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his National Conference (NC) party has lost the Budgam bypoll, an assembly seat he had vacated last year. This marks a historic defeat as the party has held this stronghold continuously since 1957, when the first legislative assembly elections were held.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazir secured victory by defeating NC's Aga Syed Mahmood with a margin of 4,478 votes.

Political analysts viewed the Budgam bypoll as a crucial test of Abdullah's popularity, particularly amid opposition claims of ineffective governance during his recent tenure in office.

The NC also failed to secure victory in the Nagrota bypoll. BJP candidate Devyani Rana retained the assembly constituency with an impressive lead of 24,647 votes, continuing the political legacy of her late father, senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana.

Rana defeated Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) candidate Harsh Dev Singh, who received 17,703 votes. The National Conference candidate Shamim Begum finished third with 10,872 votes.

The NC has historically won every assembly election in Budgam whenever it fielded a candidate in this Shia-dominated constituency. The only exception was in 1972 when the party boycotted elections across Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah vacated the Budgam seat after winning both it and the family stronghold of Ganderbal in last year's assembly elections.

Before Abdullah's term, the Budgam seat was represented by NC's current Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Aga Rahullah Mehdi, who held it for three consecutive terms in 2002, 2008, and 2014. Mehdi did not contest the 2024 polls as he had been elected to the Lok Sabha.

The most significant challenge during the bypoll campaign came unexpectedly from within, as Mehdi openly revolted against the party. The internal conflict stemmed from several issues, including disagreements over the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Though Mehdi maintained his criticism was not anti-party in nature, he notably abstained from campaigning for the NC's bypoll candidate.

In an effort to counter Mehdi's challenge, the Chief Minister devoted the final three days to intensive campaigning, mobilizing his cabinet colleagues, ruling party MLAs, and senior leaders to support the NC candidate.