J&K Deputy CM Accuses BJP of Helping PDP Win Budgam Bypoll
By: Javid Amin | 26 November 2025
A Shockwave Through Kashmir’s Political Landscape
The political mood in Jammu & Kashmir has turned volatile after Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of covertly helping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) win the Budgam Assembly bypoll held on November 11, 2025.
The PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi defeated the National Conference (NC) candidate Aga Syed Mehmood by 4,186 votes — a dramatic reversal for a seat previously won by Omar Abdullah with a massive margin of 18,485 votes in the 2024 Assembly elections.
But the victory has now become a political flashpoint.
Choudhary alleges that the BJP fielded proxy candidates, engineered vote splits, and manipulated the contest behind the scenes to ensure a PDP win — all while publicly positioning itself against Mehbooba Mufti’s party.
The charges have triggered a fierce triangle of accusations between NC, PDP, and BJP, exposing the complex and often hidden manoeuvres shaping Kashmir’s electoral dynamics.
What Exactly Happened in the Budgam Bypoll?
A Constituency with High Symbolic Value
Budgam is not an ordinary constituency — it was held by Omar Abdullah, one of J&K’s most influential political figures.
The bypoll was necessitated after Omar resigned to retain his Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. NC expected an easy victory, banking on:
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Omar’s strong personal base
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A loyal cadre network
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The combined support of traditional NC voters
Yet, the results shocked the party.
The Final Numbers
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PDP — Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi: Won by 4,186 votes
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NC — Aga Syed Mehmood: Lost despite strong ground presence
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Turnout: High for a bypoll, indicating strategic mobilisation
What looked like a routine NC hold became the biggest upset of the eight assembly bypolls held nationwide.
And now, allegations of manipulation have cast a shadow over the entire process.
Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary’s Explosive Allegations
Speaking after the results, Deputy CM Choudhary made several shocking claims.
1. “PDP fought this election with BJP’s full support.”
He accused PDP president Mehbooba Mufti of playing a “double game” — attacking BJP publicly while relying on its clandestine backing to capture Budgam.
2. BJP allegedly fielded proxy candidates
According to Choudhary, BJP put up unofficial candidates or encouraged smaller parties and independents to contest in order to:
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split NC’s core vote
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divide the anti-BJP vote
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consolidate a favourable environment for PDP
This tactic, he claimed, ensured a fractured electorate that ultimately benefited PDP.
3. Manipulation & strategic vote diversion
He further alleged that behind-the-scenes arrangements were made to divert votes and confuse NC supporters — a classic tactic in tightly contested seats.
4. “The people were misled.”
Choudhary accused both BJP and PDP of misguiding voters through narrative manipulation and engineered chaos.
5. “This was not a fair fight.”
The Deputy CM’s statement suggests deliberate electoral engineering rather than a simple case of anti-incumbency.
His words were blunt:
“This was a BJP–PDP match fixed behind the curtains. Mehbooba Mufti played one game inside and another outside.”
The allegation is politically explosive — hinting at possible covert cooperation between two parties that have been public adversaries since 2018.
PDP’s Victory — An Analysis Beyond Allegations
While the Deputy CM claims manipulation, the PDP’s win can also be interpreted through several political realities on the ground.
1. The Aga Family Factor
Budgam’s socio-religious landscape is influenced by respected Shia cleric families.
Both candidates belonged to the Aga lineage, but:
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Muntazir Mehdi (PDP) energised younger voters
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PDP capitalised on internal divisions among Aga supporters
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Localised networks worked effectively at the booth-level
2. PDP’s Silent Revival Strategy
After years of electoral decline and fractured alliances, PDP has been quietly rebuilding:
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reactivating old cadres
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repackaging its image
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focusing on constituencies with moderate swing potential
Budgam was central to this strategy.
3. NC’s Overconfidence?
Some NC insiders privately admitted that:
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ground-level mobilisation was weaker
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the campaign relied too heavily on past loyalty
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booth management on polling day lagged behind PDP’s effort
4. Swing voters shifting
The constituency has a history of issue-based voting.
Disillusionment with mainstream parties, uncertainty about NC’s internal dynamics, and local grievances may have created space for PDP to make inroads.
BJP’s Position — Denial or Strategic Silence?
The BJP has not directly responded to Surinder Choudhary’s accusations — a notable silence. The party typically counterattacks swiftly when hit with serious allegations.
Three interpretations emerge:
1. BJP wants to avoid giving legitimacy to the claim
Responding might elevate the controversy.
2. BJP may not want to highlight its weakness in the Valley
The party has limited electoral presence in central Kashmir; silence maintains ambiguity.
3. A strategic benefit?
Even if the BJP did not actively support PDP, a fractured NC benefits the BJP’s longer-term plan of preventing any single Kashmir-based party from dominating.
Political observers note that BJP has often employed vote-split strategies in states where it is not the leading player.
What Does Mehbooba Mufti Say?
The PDP has dismissed allegations as “NC’s frustration after losing a safe seat.”
Mehbooba Mufti asserted:
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PDP won due to local support
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the election was fair and monitored
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the Deputy CM is trying to cover NC’s organisational weaknesses
She accused NC leaders of “inventing conspiracy theories” to mask their defeat.
Yet, analysts note that the PDP chief has not categorically rejected the possibility of proxy candidates entering the race — maintaining political ambiguity.
Why the Loss Hurts NC So Deeply
For the ruling National Conference, the loss is not just a bypoll setback — it is a psychological blow.
1. The seat was held by Omar Abdullah
Losing a seat vacated by the party’s biggest leader sends a worrying signal.
2. Margin reversal was massive
From +18,485 votes in 2024
to
–4,186 votes in 2025
is a swing that indicates deep voter churn.
3. Fears of emerging PDP revival
NC views PDP as its primary regional rival in the Valley.
A win here gives PDP momentum.
4. Questions over NC’s internal cohesion
Aga Syed Mehmood, the NC candidate, belongs to a major cleric family — losing a familial stronghold raises concerns over NC candidate selection and on-ground control.
5. The charge of proxy candidates complicates NC’s narrative
If the BJP–PDP proxy allegation gains traction, NC may use it to consolidate anti-BJP and anti-PDP sentiment.
National Implications — Why This Bypoll Matters Beyond Kashmir
The Budgam result was one of eight bypolls conducted nationwide:
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BJP retained Nagrota (Jammu)
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Congress gained in Rajasthan and Telangana
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Biju Janata Dal held ground in Odisha
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Regional parties scored in Jharkhand, Punjab, Mizoram
Yet it was Budgam that generated the loudest political aftershocks.
This is because Kashmir’s electoral field remains:
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deeply fragmented
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highly sensitive
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closely watched by national leadership
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strategically important for the BJP
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a battleground for NC and PDP to establish dominance
A single seat victory or defeat often carries symbolic weight across the Valley.
Does a BJP–PDP Tactical Understanding Exist?
Political observers propose several possibilities.
Possibility 1: Tactical, Not Formal, Cooperation
PDP and BJP may not be allies, but they may benefit mutually from weakening NC.
Possibility 2: Proxy Candidates Used as Vote-Split Tools
A common political tactic in Indian bypolls — hard to prove but often effective.
Possibility 3: Shared Interest in Preventing NC Dominance
For different reasons:
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PDP wants to revive and reclaim lost space.
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BJP wants to prevent any single Valley party from monopolising representation.
Possibility 4: Purely Local Dynamics
Local leaders may have acted independently, without central party direction.
Possibility 5: No cooperation at all — only perception
The allegations may simply reflect NC’s shock at losing a perceived stronghold.
At this stage, there is no concrete evidence publicly available. The charges remain political assertions, not formally investigated claims.
The Voter’s Perspective — What Do Citizens Say?
On the ground, voters express mixed viewpoints:
NC Supporters
Believe the election was manipulated and strategically engineered.
PDP Supporters
View the victory as a sign of public discontent with NC governance.
Independent Voters
Say local issues — roads, water, rising unemployment — mattered more than party narratives.
Observers in Budgam
Note unusual candidate patterns and aggressive booth-level tactics but stop short of alleging collusion.
What Happens Next — The Political Fallout
The controversy will shape upcoming developments in Jammu & Kashmir.
1. NC may push for a formal investigation
A probe into proxy candidates or voter manipulation cannot be ruled out.
2. PDP will present the win as a revival story
Expect Mehbooba Mufti to use this victory to energise cadres.
3. BJP’s silence may fuel more speculation
The party could eventually break its silence if political pressure increases.
4. Budgam becomes a battleground seat for future polls
NC will invest heavily to reclaim it; PDP will defend it aggressively.
5. Coalition equations may shift
Even the perception of hidden alliances can influence future political alignments.
Conclusion: A Bypoll That Became a Political Earthquake
What should have been a simple contest to fill a vacated assembly seat has turned into one of the biggest political controversies of 2025 in Jammu & Kashmir.
Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary’s allegation — that BJP covertly backed PDP through proxies — has:
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intensified NC–PDP rivalry
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raised questions about BJP’s influence strategy in the Valley
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cast doubt on electoral fairness
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triggered introspection within NC
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given PDP unexpected momentum
Whether the charges are true or politically motivated, one thing is certain:
The Budgam bypoll has reshaped Kashmir’s political landscape — and its aftershocks will be felt in every upcoming election.
