Srinagar, Oct. 20 -- A fresh political controversy has erupted within the National Conference (NC) over the Budgam Assembly by-election, as a series of statements from party candidate Aga Syed Mehmood, MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Deputy Chief Minister Suriner Choudhary have revealed widening rifts within the influential Aga family and the party's local ranks.

A week earlier National Conference leader and Member Parliament from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah had said that he won't campaign for the National Conference in the upcoming Budgam Assembly by-polls.

However, on Monday after filing nomination papers for Budgam by-election NC's senior leader Aga Syed Mehmood told reporters that Ruhullah would participate in the party's campaign an...