Srinagar, Oct. 20 -- The Budgam Assembly by-election, set for November 11, 2025, has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in Jammu and Kashmir, pitting members of the influential Agha family against each other.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) candidate, Agha Syed Mehmood, will face his nephew, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, representing the People's Democratic Party (PDP), in a constituency with a predominantly Shia electorate.

The bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who won the 2024 elections from both Budgam and Ganderbal, retained the Ganderbal seat. Budgam, a traditional NC-PDP stronghold, has now become the stage for a family showdown.

In addition to the Agha family duel, other can...