Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday (October 20, 2025) said the ruling National Conference (NC) will fight the bypolls to Nagrota and Budgam Assembly seats on public issues, the biggest being the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.

Mr. Choudhary expressed confidence that the voters in both the constituencies will ensure the win of the NC candidates to strengthen the hands of party president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

NC fielded District Development Council (DDC) member Shamim Begum from Nagrota and former Minister Agha Syed Mehmood from Budgam. The two seats are going to the by-elections on November 11, 2025.

A bye-election was necessitated in Nagrota by the demise of BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024, last year, while the Budgam seat fell vacant following Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s retention of Ganderbal — his family’s bastion — after winning the two assembly seats.

Talking to reporters at NC headquarters in Jammu before accompanying Begum to file her nomination from Nagrota, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “We will fight the elections on the issues being faced by the people and restoration of statehood is the biggest issue for us.” “We have restarted the practice of Darbar Move to provide major relief to the business community and others in Jammu. The practice was stopped by the BJP without caring for the business of the people,” Mr. Choudhary said.

The government recently issued orders for the closure of the Darbar Move offices in the summer capital Srinagar, hours after Chief Minister Abdullah announced restoration of the age-old tradition introduced by Dogra rulers in 1872.

According to the order, all offices shall reopen at Jammu, the winter capital, on November 3, 2025. The Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration had scrapped the Darbar Move tradition in 2021.

“The restoration of Darbar Move is a very big decision of the NC-led government as it will not only benefit shopkeepers in Raghunath Bazar or Afsara Road but will revive the age-old tradition and bring people closer,” Mr. Choudhary said.

He alleged that the BJP is expected to fight the elections on misleading narratives and dividing people on the basis of their religion, creed and caste.

“The people are expected to vote for the ruling party candidate rather than the opposition for overall development. The 28 BJP legislators could do nothing for the people in their constituencies during the recent floods,” the Deputy CM said.

“We will win both the seats to end the arrogance of the BJP,” Mr. Choudhary said.

Another Minister, Javed Rana, said the National Conference is a cadre-based party. “We are sure that the people will stand with the Mr. Abdullah-led Government so that we can bring back the lost glory of the erstwhile state,” Mr. Rana said.

Later, Begum, accompanied by hundreds of supporters, including the Deputy CM, submitted her nomination papers before the returning officer for the Nagrota bypoll.

Candidates of the ruling National Conference and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (October 20, 2025) filed nomination papers for the bypolls to the Budgam assembly segment in Jammu and Kashmir.

While the National Conference has named veteran Shia leader Aga Mehmood as its candidate, the BJP has fielded Syed Mohsin. The PDP has also announced its candidate, Aga Muntazir Mehdi.

Aga Mehmood was accompanied by senior National Conference leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while Syed Mohsin was joined by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma while filing nomination papers.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Abdullah said he was hopeful that the people of Budgam would vote in large numbers for his party’s candidate.

“The entire organisation is with Aga Mehmood. From today, we will take our message to the people and hope that when results are declared, Aga Mehmood will be a winner by a big majority and represent the people of Budgam in the assembly,” the Chief Minister said.

The Budgam assembly segment will go to bypolls on November 11 as the seat had fallen vacant following Mr. Abdullah’s resignation after he decided to retain the Ganderbal seat, having successfully contested from both constituencies.

Mr. Abdullah said National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, in consultation with party leaders, decided that Aga Mehmood was the best candidate for the NC.

“There was no confusion in our party… we were waiting for others. We were in no hurry. Candidates of almost all political parties filed papers today. How did we delay? We had decided earlier, but we also played along with others. Elections are contested under a strategy,” he added.

Asked about his decision to vacate the Budgam seat in favour of Ganderbal last year, the Chief Minister said he had never kept the people of Budgam in the dark.

“I did not want to contest from two seats, but I was compelled (by the party). After leaving the seat, we did not abandon it or ignore the development of Budgam. In the last one year, we have expedited works,” he said.

Asked if estranged NC MP Aga Ruhullah would support Aga Mehmood, the Chief Minister avoided a direct reply, saying the party candidate had already spoken about it.

Mr. Mehmood earlier told reporters that Mr. Ruhullah was like his son and a party man, and that he expected the MP to campaign for him.

However, Mr. Ruhullah took to X, saying his loyalty was to his conscience and principles. “While I hold respect for my elders in my family, I request them not to belittle my fight (our fight). If they can’t comprehend it and be part of it, at least don’t drag me and my struggle to this level,” he said.

On the Nagrota seat, Mr. Abdullah said his party had fielded a candidate after the Congress refused to do so.

“In 2014, we had a (winning) candidate there. Last year also, we had a candidate. Now our DDC member Shameema has been authorised by Farooq Abdullah to file the nomination papers on behalf of the NC,” he said.