Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, left, with the party’s Budgam bypoll candidate Aga Mehmood, right, after filing their nomination papers in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on October 20, 2025. | Photo credit: Imran Nissar
Candidates of the ruling National Conference and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (October 20, 2025) filed their nomination papers for the bypoll to the Budgam assembly segment in Jammu and Kashmir.
While the National Conference has named veteran Shia leader Agu Mehmood as its candidate, the BJP has fielded Syed Mohsin. The PDP also announced its candidate, Aga Muntazir Mehdi.
Agu Mehmood was accompanied by National Conference leaders including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while Syed Mohsin was joined by Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma as he filed his nomination papers.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Abdullah said he hoped the people of Budgam would vote for his party’s candidate in large numbers.
“The whole organization is with Aga Mehmood. From today we will take our message to the people and we hope that when the results are declared, Aga Mehmood will be the winner with a big majority and will represent the people of Budgam in the assembly,” the Chief Minister said.
The Budgam assembly segment will go to polls on November 11 as the seat fell vacant following Mr Abdullah’s resignation after he decided to retain the Ganderbal seat after successfully contesting from both the constituencies.
Mr. Abdullah said that National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, after consulting party leaders, decided that Aga Mehmood was the best candidate for the NC.
“There was no confusion in our party… we waited for the others. We were in no rush. Candidates from almost all political parties submitted their documents today. How did we delay? We had already decided earlier, but we also played with others. Elections are fought according to strategy,” he added.
Asked about his decision to vacate the Budgam seat in favor of Ganderbal last year, the chief minister said he never kept the people of Budgam in the dark.
“I did not want to contest from two seats, but I was forced (by the party). After leaving the seat, we did not abandon it or ignore the development of Budgam. In the last one year, we accelerated the work,” he said.
Asked whether estranged NC MP Aga Ruhullah would support Aga Mehmood, the chief minister avoided a direct answer, saying the party’s candidate had already spoken about it.
Mr Mehmood had earlier told reporters that Mr Ruhullah was like his son and a party member and that he expected the MP to campaign for him.
However, Mr. Ruhullah approached X saying that he was loyal to his conscience and principles. “While I respect my elders in my family, I request them not to belittle my struggle (our struggle). If they cannot understand and be a part of it, at least don’t drag me and my struggle to this level,” he said.
In the Nagrota seat, Mr. Abdullah said his party had fielded a candidate after the Congress rejected it.
“We had a (winning) candidate there in 2014. We had a candidate last year too. Now our DDC member Shameema has been mandated by Farooq Abdullah to file nomination papers on behalf of NC,” he said.
Published – 20 Oct 2025 18:26 IST
