Budgam, Nov. 14 -- The People's Democratic Party (PDP) clinched victory in the Budgam Assembly by-election on Friday, with party candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi winning by a margin of 4,478 votes after all 17 rounds of counting.

The win comes as a significant boost for the PDP, which has been seeking to regain ground in central Kashmir.

Reacting to his victory, Mehdi said the mandate reflected the public's response to years of neglect.

"This is a result of our hard work of 50 years... The way people of Budgam were neglected in 2024, today the people of Budgam have given a befitting reply," he told the media.

He said the verdict carried a clear message for political parties across Jammu and Kashmir.

"If we want to bring about a chan...