Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 20: As Budgam prepares to vote on November 11, residents are caught between hope for change and frustration over repeated political promises that remain unfulfilled.
Some voters see the bypolls as an opportunity to support candidates who might bring meaningful development, while others remain disillusioned, questioning whether voting will make a difference Para Hilal Ahmad Dar, optimistic about progress, said, “I have expectations from my candidate. Whatever development has taken place here is because of my candidate.”
Others are skeptical. Mohammad Ismail Dar questioned the value of voting, saying, “Why should I vote? What did we get through voting? We now have to install prepaid meters. There are all sorts of problems, like broken roads, Poor electricity, and healthcare woes. Leaders’ promises over the years have proved false. We have no hope.”
With nearly a year passed since the last elections, dissatisfaction with progress runs deep. Abdul Rahman Dar, who voted in 2024, expressed a mix of disappointment and cautious optimism. “I voted last time, but it was for nothing. Issues like unemployment and poor roads are still unresolved. Still, we will vote again, hoping something will change,” he said.
A resident of Narbal voiced similar concerns about basic infrastructure. “Nothing has happened here: no water, no healthcare. Today our Chief Minister is talking about prepaid meters,” he said, pointing to long-standing problems.
The by-election was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chose to retain his Ganderbal seat, leaving Budgam unrepresented despite winning both constituencies in the 2024 Assembly polls. Budgam has traditionally been a stronghold of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In the previous election, Abdullah secured 36,010 votes in Budgam, while PDP’s Muntazir Mehdi received 17,525.
For the bypoll, JKNC has fielded veteran Shia leader Aga Mehmood, BJP is contesting with Syed Mohsin, and PDP has nominated Aga Muntazir Mehdi. All the main major parties are banking upon Shia voters.
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