It Is Omar Abdullah Versus Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi In Budgam

In the Assembly polls, National Conference (NC) vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is vying for both seats – Ganderbal and Budgam. With Abdullah’s candidacy, the NC-Congress alliance hopes to retain the seat.

Aside from Omar, the major candidates in the fray include Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi (PDP), Aga Syed Ahmad Mosvi (Awami National Conference), Gazanfar Maqbool (Samajwadi Party), and Nisar Ahmad Pal (Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Front – Secular).

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However, major contest is likely to be between Abdullah and Muntazir Mehdi. Interestingly, NC leader has received the support of Srinagar MP Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a notable figure in the Budgam politics as well as Muntazir’s cousin.

But Abdullah’s dual constituency move has received criticism from opponents, citing his lack of confidence. Ganderbal is traditionally a NC bastion. Explaining his contest from Budgam, Omar said, “The contest from Budgam shows NC is not weak. It is proof of our power.”

Muntazir is the son of prominent Shia leader and former Hurriyat leader Agha Syed Hassan. Agha Hassan, father of Muntazir’s influence among the Shia pockets of Budgam and his commendable local support makes a great challenge to NC’s dominion in the constituency and making Abdullah’s contest difficult.

Muntazir presents himself as a leader who can bring positive changes and address the concerns of the electorates. “I am someone who has been chosen by the people of Budgam to bring about positive changes in the Budgam district. I don’t want women on the streets, as long as I am there, I will fight for my people on the streets” Kashmir Observer quotes, as Muntazir is saying.

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Interestingly, Muntazir’s uncle, Aga Syed Ahmad who is contesting from the assembly segment on a Awami National Conference (ANC) ticket.

The Budgam assembly segment is considered to be a NC bastion, as the party won the seat seven consecutive times since 1977. In the 2014 Assembly polls, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi won the election by defeating PDP rival Gh Mohi-ud-din Bhat by a margin of 2787 votes. Mehdi secured the seat in 2008 as well. NC’s Syed Ghulam Hussain Gilani represented the assembly four consecutive times – 1977, 1983, 1987 and 1996.