Jammu, Nov. 14 -- In a dramatic political upset in Jammu and Kashmir, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday wrested the Budgam Assembly seat from the ruling National Conference (NC) in a high-profile by-election, marking the party's first-ever defeat in this Shia-majority constituency.
The result is historic. Since 1962, the NC has lost the Budgam seat only once-in 1972, when it did not contest. This is the first time the party has been defeated here in a direct electoral contest.
PDP candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi clinched victory by a margin of 4,478 votes, securing 21,576 votes against 17,098 polled by NC's Aga Syed Mahmood Al-Masovi. BJP's Aga Syed Mohsin Mosvi finished a distant third with 2,619 votes, trailing...