Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir UT Surinder Kumar Choudhary. File | Picture Credit score: Imran Nissar
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday (October 20, 2025) stated the ruling. Nationwide Convention (NC) will battle the bypolls to Nagrota and Budgam Meeting seats on public points, the largest being the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
Mr. Choudhary expressed confidence that the voters in each the constituencies will make sure the win of the NC candidates to strengthen the arms of get together president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
NC fielded District Growth Council (DDC) member Shamim Begum from Nagrota and former Minister Agha Syed Mehmood from Budgam. The 2 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, final 12 months, whereas the Budgam seat fell vacant following Chief Minister Omar. Abdullah’s retention of Ganderbal — his household’s bastion — after profitable the 2 meeting seats.
Speaking to reporters at NC headquarters in Jammu earlier than accompanying Begum to file her nomination from Nagrota, the Deputy Chief Minister stated, “We’ll battle the elections on the problems being confronted by the folks and restoration of statehood is the largest problem for us.” “Now we have restarted the apply of Darbar Transfer to supply main reduction to the enterprise group and others in Jammu. The apply was stopped by the BJP with out caring for the enterprise of the folks,” Mr. Choudhary stated.
The federal government not too long ago issued orders for the closure of the Darbar Transfer places of work in the summertime capital Srinagar, hours after Chief Minister Abdullah introduced restoration of the age-old custom launched by Dogra rulers in 1872.
In line with the order, all places of work shall reopen at Jammu, the winter capital, on November 3, 2025. The Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration had scrapped the Darbar Transfer custom in 2021.
“The restoration of Darbar Transfer is a really huge choice of the NC-led authorities because it is not going to solely profit shopkeepers in Raghunath Bazar or Afsara Street however will revive the age-old custom and produce folks nearer,”Mr. Choudhary stated.
He alleged that the BJP is predicted to battle the elections on deceptive narratives and dividing folks on the idea of their faith, creed and caste.
“The persons are anticipated to vote for the ruling get together candidate somewhat than the opposition for total improvement. The 28 BJP legislators might do nothing for the folks of their constituencies through the latest floods,” the Deputy CM stated.
“We’ll win each the seats to finish the vanity of the BJP,” Mr. Choudhary stated.
One other Minister, Javed Rana, stated the Nationwide Convention is a cadre-based get together. “We’re certain that the folks will stand with the Mr. Abdullah-led Authorities in order that we will carry again the misplaced glory of the erstwhile state,” Mr. Rana stated.
Later, Begum, accompanied by a whole lot of supporters, together with the Deputy CM, submitted her nomination papers earlier than the returning officer for the Nagrota bypoll.
Printed – October 20, 2025 07:13 pm IST