Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led a high-energy roadshow in Budgam today, campaigning vigorously for National Conference candidate Aga Syed Mahmood Mosavi in a crucial by-election seen as a direct referendum on his government’s performance after one year in power. The Budgam seat fell vacant when Abdullah chose to retain Ganderbal, his family stronghold, following dual victories in the 2024 Assembly polls.

With voting scheduled for November 11 and results on November 14, Abdullah framed the contest as a battle to protect the region from BJP influence, accusing the PDP and BJP of forming an opportunistic alliance against the NC for refusing to compromise on keeping the saffron party out of power—unlike the PDP-BJP coalition government of 2015-2019 that he blamed for enabling Article 370’s abrogation.

Addressing enthusiastic crowds, Abdullah highlighted tangible development promises, including a National Law University campus, BCCI-backed cricket academies, 200 units of free electricity, and accelerated infrastructure projects. He urged voters to back an MLA aligned with the ruling dispensation for seamless coordination on roads, water supply, jobs, and welfare schemes, contrasting it with opposition candidates who would remain ineffective outsiders. Facing a crowded field of 20 contestants—including PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, BJP’s Aga Syed Mohsin, and independent Muntazir Mohiuddin—the NC is banking on its 2024 landslide margin of over 16,000 votes in Budgam to secure another win.

Internal dissent has added pressure, with influential Shia leader and Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi conspicuously absent from the campaign trail. Mehdi, a former Budgam representative, publicly criticised the NC leadership for failing to deliver on 2024 mandates like statehood restoration and safeguarding constitutional rights, warning that the party risks “denigrating the people’s mandate”. His absence threatens turnout in Shia-dominated pockets and has fuelled opposition narratives of governance failures, delayed projects, and unfulfilled promises amid the Union Territory’s limited powers.

The bypoll has emerged as Omar Abdullah’s first major popularity test since returning as Chief Minister, with the outcome likely to shape political narratives ahead of future elections. A victory would reinforce NC’s dominance in the Valley and silence critics, while any upset could embolden rivals and expose cracks within the NC-Congress alliance. As campaigning enters its final phase, Abdullah exudes confidence, asserting that Budgam voters will once again reject BJP-backed forces and reward development-focused governance.