Budgam’s verdict: NC’s silence speaks louder than its words

By Arsalan Ahad Reshi

Chilly winds blow through the offices of the National Conference after the loss of their bastion. They appear unable to understand what went wrong, but the people know. Ego and the mishandling of Aga Ruhullah Mehdi did it all. Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister, still refuses to show humility. His interview soon after the results revealed his anger toward Ruhullah, but also his refusal to accept defeat. No one in the NC is willing to say, “Yes, we lost, and we accept our mistake.”

A statement from Aga Mahmood, the NC candidate from Budgam, has surfaced, but it reads more like ritual than genuine gratitude to voters or congratulations to the winning candidate. Other defeated candidates across parties accepted their loss and vowed to work harder. The NC alone continues to shift blame onto Ruhullah, holding him accountable for their downfall. During the campaign, the party sidelined Ruhullah’s contribution to their 2024 victory. Yet, once the results came, they accused him of not campaigning enough, claiming this gave the PDP its edge.

Omar Abdullah, addressing the media, remarked, “Ruhullah did whatever he had to do to give me a message. We’ll rise again in Budgam. But he must think about himself. Will this man he made to win let him win in Budgam ever again?” Even now, Omar Abdullah refuses to acknowledge that Ruhullah was the one who secured Budgam for him earlier, and that it was Ruhullah’s decision that changed the outcome this time. Victory rallies carried posters of Aga Ruhullah with the slogan “Kaun Aga,” a pointed response to the Deputy Chief Minister’s dismissive remark, “Kaun Aga, mai kise Aga ko nahi janata.” Though he later apologized, claiming he misheard the question amid noise, people knew exactly whom he meant.

Budgam’s vote was not just against false promises; it was a vote to shatter the arrogance of the National Conference, especially Omar Abdullah. Yet he continues to soar above reality. The entire cabinet, including the Chief Minister, campaigned hard, but still lost the seat by more than 4,000 votes. The PDP’s vote bank remained intact, while NC’s fractured—some votes went to PDP, others to Jibran Dar, and the rest scattered among smaller candidates. Budgam recorded a 50% turnout, proving that Aga Muntazir Mehdi’s victory was not born of boycott but of active, deliberate participation.

For a day, the National Conference went into hiding, silent and shattered. Now they attempt to counter the defeat by arguing that PDP did not win alone, but with support from the People’s Conference, Ruhullah Mehdi, JDF, and other smaller groups. They want to dilute PDP’s victory by portraying it as a coalition win. Yet by the same logic, NC’s own 2024 success was not theirs alone—it came through the INDIA alliance. NC wants sole credit for its victories but insists on dividing PDP’s.

History reminds us that Farooq Abdullah became Chief Minister in 1984 only after allying with Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, whom he abandoned in 1986 when he signed the Farooq-Rajiv Accord. Does NC ever acknowledge this? No. Because alliances have always been their path to power, though they never admit it. When others do the same, NC cherry-picks facts to discredit them. But the people now see through this narrative.

In Budgam, it was 41 MLAs against three from PDP, yet the three wiped out the entire cabinet and registered a historic win. Aga Muntazir Mehdi has already begun working even before taking oath. When a tragic accident struck Budgam, he rushed to the hospital immediately, assuring people of support. He even traveled to SKIMS to meet patients, spending the night there to ensure they did not feel abandoned.

The National Conference is trying desperately to spin this defeat, but the strength of PDP’s win has left them feeling as though they lost all 41 seats. Their grand mandate has been reduced to rubble by a single constituency. Budgam marks not only the revival of PDP but also a lesson for NC. They must stop repeating the “five-year mandate” line and start working before it is too late.

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Arsalan Ahad Reshi is a BBA student and an activist

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