Srinagar, Oct 19 – The National Conference (NC) announced that former Jammu and Kashmir minister Aga Syed Mahmood will be the party’s candidate for the upcoming Budgam Assembly by‑poll. The announcement came on Sunday as the NC prepares to contest the seat that opened after the resignation of its Vice‑President and current Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
Mahmood has a long history in J&K politics. He served as the NC MLA for Pattan from 1987 to 1990 and later represented Beerwah from 1996 to 2000. He also spent time in the upper house of the former bicameral Jammu and Kashmir legislature.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named Aga Syed Mohsin as its candidate for Budgam. For the neighboring Nagrota seat, the BJP’s original MLA, Devender Singh Rana, who won in 2024, passed away on Oct. 31. The party has nominated his daughter, Devyani Rana, to contest the by‑poll.
Budgam was won by Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Assembly elections, a seat he gave up in favour of representing Ganderbal, which he also won. The NC’s victory there allowed the party to keep the seat in its control, but the resignation triggered the by‑poll.
The NC has approached its Congress allies about fielding a candidate for the Nagrota by‑poll, though Congress has not yet confirmed a decision. This move follows a tense period of negotiations over the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress had wanted a safer seat among the three where the NC has strong support, but the NC offered the fourth seat instead. The BJP is expected to field its state president Sat Sharma for that Rajya Sabha election, strengthening its position.
Both the Budgam and Nagrota by‑polls are scheduled for Nov. 11. In the 2024 Assembly elections, the NC secured 42 seats, the BJP 29, Congress 6, PDP 3, CPI‑M 1, Peoples Conference 1, Aam Aadmi Party 1, Awami Ittehad Party 1, and six independents.
Congress has since decided to support the NC‑led government from outside, choosing not to contest the Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir. The by‑polls will be a key test of the NC’s continued influence in the region.
Source: ianslive
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