The shock defeat in Budgam forces NC and its allies to confront uncomfortable truths about governance and ground realities.
By Raqif Makhdoomi.
Law student | Human Rights Activist.
Political landscape has changed since the Budgam By-elections have been declared. Aga Muntazir Mehdi is now the MLA of Budgam. People are visiting his home, congratulating him for his unexceptional success. He will now represent Budgam for 4 years. His four years as MLA shall decide his next tenure. Omar Abdullah was furious when his party lost the seat. He was so angry that when he was asked about Budgam by media his angry was reflected in his words. He full of anger said “He did whatever he did to give me a message. We’ll rise again in Budgam. But he needs to think. Will he (Aga Muntazir) let him (Aga Ruhullah Mehdi) rise again”. Omar Abdullah was totally not fine with whatever had happened. There was a pin drop silence in National conference soon as PDP took lead. As lead shifted from NC to PDP, NC knew they lost. They were unable to put out a tweet for about 2 days. Not even their leaders were able to write a tweet to defend what happened in budgam. It took 7 to 8 hours for their supporter to come to Twitter and somehow defend the defeat. But they themselves knew this defence won’t work because budgam was a litmus test for NC and they failed. It was not a litmus test for PDP for PDP it was a moment to prove that whatever they said inside and outside of Assembly was right. And they somehow proved it. People now claim that this isn’t PDP’s win alone but a collective win for 2 to 3 groups. To be honest, even if it’s win of parties all together it’s a win. Because back in 2024 it wasn’t win of NC all alone. It was win of INDIA alliance. Not to forget PDP took 17 thousand votes all alone. And in By polls PDP was able to keep it’s vote intact. It was NC’s vote bank that got divided among various candidates. Of which PDP was the mass gainer followed by Jibran dar. Not to be ignored NOTA had more votes than many other candidates. Which means people still don’t have trust in all the parties and candidates.
When the leaders of National conference finally spoke, they all came with the defence that PDP didn’t fight the elections alone. But they got help from others. The argument wasn’t taken by anyone. In all this congress was missing. They were missing from the budgam campaigns. Not a single leader from the Congress came to campaign for National conference. Indicating that things aren’t well between them.
JKPCC president Tariq Hameed karra when finally broke his silence on the results categorically said that the results in budgam have shown that the broken promises of the government are creating anger among people. This may be an indication that congress might rethink about their alliance with JKNC. Because no one wants to be part of failures. And at what cost shall the congress take all the blame? NC neither gave them a Raj Sabha seat nor are they holding any cabinet berth in the government. Congress is unnecessarily busy proving one sided love for NC. While as National conference’s romance with BJP is no secret now.
Omar Abdullah or the NC in general may not show it but their actions are speaking out louder. Since the Budgam seat slipped out of their hands. The MLAs have started to spend long nights in their constituencies. This wasn’t the thing till recent. But now they have started to hold public meetings and are also approving developmental works. NC seems to have gone into damage control mode. Their “Kaun Aga” has made them actually remember who Aga.
Omar Abdullah who was so busy with marathons and skiing is now busy touring his constituency. A rear moment for us. He never in past 1 year was so keen at visiting his constituency. Visiting Ganderbal was at the bottom of his to-do list but now it’s at the top. Omar Abdullah while speaking to media said “Ganderbal was never ignored in any aspect”. He also approved works for 150 crores. People of Ganderbal must thank people of Budgam for voting against NC, that’s what got them projects worth 150 crores. Not only Omar Abdullah but many other MLAs are now in their constituencies, ensuring people don’t feel betrayed anymore. “Ask us what we have done. After 5 years” has been dumped. They are now ready to give hourly report of what they have done. Budgam truly has shaken them to the core. The behaviour of NC carder proves that they had not even imaged about loosing budgam after holding onto it since 1977. National conference has only lost it’s seat to people’s democratic Party but they have lost their confidence to PDP. In assembly NC MLA, with ego asked Waheed Parra to shut up. Saying that people have given them mandate to shut up not to speak. Now National conference must be asked have people now asked National conference to shut up and start working. Or they will still not introspect that what went wrong and why.
National conference may not agree but they know, political dynamics have changed. People in Budgam wanted change and they choose PDP over NC. Which means people still see PDP as an alternative not as a failed entity. National conference has understood, that they aren’t the only choice that people have. People have other options also and when people want to make others win. They can do that.
