Politics

Politics

AAP’s Deeba Khan Officially Files Nomination from Budgam Constituency-27

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Deeba Khan

AAP’s candidate Deeba Khan has officially filed her nomination papers from Budgam Constituency-27 ahead of the upcoming by-election. Her entry adds a new dimension to the already competitive political landscape of Central Kashmir, where the ruling National Conference (NC), opposition BJP, PDP, and several independents are vying for dominance.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Deeba Khan’s candidature reflects AAP’s growing interest in the region and its attempt to expand its footprint in Jammu and Kashmir. The by-election, scheduled for November 11, will test traditional loyalties and emerging political forces. Observers say her participation could influence voter dynamics and bring fresh debates to the campaign trail.

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J&K Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary Confident of NC Victory in Nagrota, Says People Trust Omar Abdullah’s Leadership

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Surinder Choudhary

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Monday exuded confidence in his party winning the Nagrota seat by-election and said that the people will vote for National Conference’s candidate as they have faith in the party.

“JKNC has bestowed their trust on Shamim Begum for the by-election to the Nagrota Assembly constituency…We will surely win the elections as the people of J&K have faith in the JKNC…By reviving the Darbar Move, J&K CM Omar Abdullah has revived the economy of the J&K,” Choudhary told reporters.

Earlier today, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accompanied National Conference Budgam Assembly by-election candidate Agha Syed Mehmood to the nomination filing.

Speaking to the reporters outside the venue, J-K CM Omar Abdullah admitted that he never wanted to contest the election on two seats, one of which was the Budgam Assembly constituency, which he vacated later, necessitating a by-election.

Omar Abdullah extended his complete faith in Agha Syed Mehmood for the bypoll, scheduled for November 11.

“We hope Agha Mehmood will get a resounding win from here. Farooq Abdullah discussed with party members and decided that Agha Mehmood will be the National Conference’s candidate in this by-election. We had no rush. We have decided on the first day who will fight the election,” Omar Abdullah said.

“I have never kept Budgam people in deceit. I was forced, even though I never wanted it. I left the seat but not the development of Budgam,” Abdullah said.

Omar Abdullah had won both Ganderbal and Budgam seats comfortably in the 2024 Assembly election against the PDP.

NC’s Agha Mehmood will be up against PDP candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. AAP has also fielded Deeba Khan from the constituency.
On October 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that by-elections for eight assembly constituencies across seven states and Union Territories will take place on November 11.

The counting of votes for the by-election is scheduled for November 14. These by-elections are being held to fill vacancies caused by various reasons such as resignations, deaths, or disqualifications.

The by-elections will take place in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam and Nagrota districts, Rajasthan’s Anta district, Jharkhand’s Ghatshila district, Telangana’s Jubilee Hills district, Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, Mizoram’s Dampa district, and Odisha’s Nuapada district. (ANI)

News / Politics

Ruhullah Rejects Agha Mehmood’s Claim, Says His Loyalty Lies With Conscience Not Party in Budgam Campaign Row

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Aga Ruhullah

Hours after National Conference candidate for Budgam Assembly constituency Agha Syed Mehmood expressed confidence that Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi would join the party’s election campaign, Ruhullah distanced himself, asserting that his allegiance lies with his “conscience and principles.”

While filing his nomination, Agha Mehmood told reporters that Ruhullah had no reason to remain detached from the campaign.

“It’s the National Conference that made him what he is today. His role is important. I believe he will definitely come forward,” Mehmood said. He added that he is in regular contact with Ruhullah. “Politics aside, he’s like my own son. We have been continuously talking to each other,” he said.

He further said Ruhullah’s past statements were aligned with party positions. “What he talks about are not his personal matters but the issues of the party. Whether it’s Article 370, Article 35A or reservation, these are National Conference issues,” he maintained.

According to him, there was “no reason” for the Srinagar MP to stay away from campaigning.

Ruhullah issued a pointed response through a post on X. “My loyalty is to my conscience and principles. While I hold respect for my elders in my family, I request them not to belittle my fight (our fight). If they can’t comprehend it and be part of it, at least don’t drag me and my struggle to this level,” he wrote.

Speaking to KNS, the Srinagar MP said that he would “strictly not be part of the campaigning” as the party has yet to fulfil the promises it made.

He also denied Agha Mehmood’s assertion of being in contact, saying he was not taken into confidence during any deliberations regarding the Budgam bypoll.

The Budgam seat, a traditional NC bastion, is expected to witness a closely watched contest.(KNS)

News / Politics

Aga Mehmood Confirms Aga Ruhullah Will Campaign for Budgam, Calls Him a True National Conference Member

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Aga Mehmood Confirms

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) candidate for Budgam Assembly constituency, Agha Syed Mehmood, on Monday said that Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is a person of the National Conference, and has no reason to stay away from the election campaign.

Speaking to the media, Agha Mehmood said that the National Conference has played a vital role in shaping Aga Ruhullah’s political career. “It’s the National Conference that made him what he is today. That must be acknowledged. His role is important. I believe he will definitely come forward,” Mehmood said.

He said that he has been in regular contact with Ruhullah. “Politics aside, he’s like my own son. We have been continuously talking to each other,” he said.

Mehmood expressed confidence that Ruhullah will take part in the campaign. “There is no reason for him not to. He’s a party member. The party made him an Assembly Member from around 2002 to 2018, and then he became a Member of Parliament. So why wouldn’t he campaign?” he said.

He also said that Ruhullah’s public statements reflect party issues, not personal opinions. “What he talks about are not his personal matters but the issues of the party. Whether it’s Article 370, Article 35A, or reservation, these are National Conference issues,” Mehmood said.

“Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi will campaign for the party in the upcoming elections. He belongs to the party,” he added. (KNS)

Developing Story / Politics

Aga Ruhullah Demands Reservation Report Be Made Public Before Budgam By-Polls

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Aga Ruhullah

Ahead of the deadline for filing nominations for Budgam by-polls, MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday demanded that the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s report on reservation must be made public and shared with stakeholders by tomorrow.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the office of the MP said that the report of the CSC shall be made public by tomorrow.

“Before any call is taken on the Budgam by-election, the Reservation Sub-Committee Report must be made public and shared with stakeholders by tomorrow,” he said, adding that the future decision will be guided by the contents of the report.

“All channels of communication shall remain open with our (students’) representatives,” his office said—(KNO)

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Afghan Taliban Declare Kashmir an ‘Internal Matter’ of India

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Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi

In a significant diplomatic shift, the Afghan Taliban has declared the Kashmir issue an “internal matter” of India during a high-level meeting in New Delhi on October 10, 2025. The statement, made by Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi alongside India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, has ignited controversy, particularly in Pakistan, which views Kashmir as a disputed territory requiring international resolution.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The joint India-Afghanistan statement condemned a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, and reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to preventing its soil from being used for terrorism against India. Muttaqi’s reference to India and Afghanistan as “contiguous neighbors”—implying recognition of the 106-km border through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—further underscored the Taliban’s stance, aligning with India’s claim over the region.

Historical Context and Taliban’s Evolving Stance

The Taliban’s position marks a departure from its earlier ambiguity on Kashmir. In May 2020, spokesperson Suhail Shaheen dismissed rumors of supporting a “Ghazwa-e-Hind” against India, emphasizing non-interference. Post-2021 Kabul takeover, the Taliban briefly voiced sympathy for Kashmiri Muslims in September 2021 but reverted to neutrality by 2022, with Anas Haqqani stating Kashmir was “not part of our jurisdiction.” The 2025 statement, however, is the clearest alignment yet with India’s narrative, driven by pragmatic needs for regional stability and Indian humanitarian aid, including 500 annual ITEC scholarships.

Regional and Domestic Reactions

The statement has deepened India-Afghanistan ties, with India viewing the Taliban as a counterweight to Pakistan-backed militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, it has strained Afghan-Pakistan relations, already tense over TTP activities. On social media platform X, Indian users hailed the Taliban’s stance as a diplomatic win, while Pakistani and Kashmiri groups decried it as a “betrayal” and violation of UN mandates. Kashmiri legal experts have called the statement “baseless,” arguing it ignores self-determination rights.

Broader Implications

The Taliban’s position reflects a delicate balancing act: maintaining ideological appeal to Muslim causes while avoiding conflicts that could invite Indian retaliation or global isolation. For India, the statement bolsters its outreach to Kabul, though security remains heightened in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan, meanwhile, faces a diplomatic setback, with its narrative on Kashmir as an international issue further challenged.

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Nazir Ahmad Khan Named Awami Itihad Party Candidate for Budgam By-Election

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Nazir Ahmad Khan

The Awami Itihad Party (AIP) has announced Nazir Ahmad Khan as its candidate for the upcoming Budgam by-election. The party confirmed his nomination, saying Khan will represent AIP’s vision for transparency, development, and grassroots leadership in the region.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel The Budgam by-election is expected to see strong competition among major political parties, including the National Conference (NC), PDP, and Congress.

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Ghulam Ahmad Mir Criticises NC for Not Consulting Allies Before Finalising Rajya Sabha Candidates in J&K

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Ghulam Ahmad Mir

AICC Seneral Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Monday said the National Conference (NC) should have taken all like-minded parties into confidence before finalising its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters in Anantnag district, Mir exuded confidence that no non-BJP MLA will vote for the party’s candidates in the polls.Biennial elections to fill four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, which have been lying vacant since 2021, will be held on October 24.

Separately, Rajya Sabha bypoll to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of AAP member from Punjab, Sanjeev Arora, will also be held on October 24.

“The chief minister should have taken into confidence all like-minded parties before naming their (NC) candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections,” Mir said.

“There are 60 non-BJP MLAs in the 88-member House. I am confident that the BJP will not get even one of those 60 votes. They are facing internal problems and it is difficult for them to manage within their party,” he said.

Mir said the Congress sought a safe seat from its alliance partner NC to contest the Rajya Sabha elections, but there was no response from the regional party.

“We wanted to field a candidate for the first three seats, but they offered us the fourth seat, which was not safe. Therefore, the Congress decided not to field a candidate for the fourth seat,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir has been unrepresented in the Rajya Sabha since February 15, 2021, the day Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway finished their terms.

Two other members, Fayaz Ahmed Mir and Shamsheer Singh Manhas, completed their terms on February 10 in the same year.

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Congress Calls Key Meeting Amid Rift with National Conference Over Rajya Sabha Seat Allocation in J&K

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Congress

Amid the ongoing stalemate between the National Conference and the Congress over Rajya Sabha seat allocations, the Congress has convened a crucial meeting of its senior leaders and MLAs at the party headquarters on Sunday afternoon.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Senior party leader and Bandipora MLA Nizamuddin Bhat said the meeting has been called to deliberate on the situation arising from alliance-related issues and to receive directives from the party high command.The meeting will be chaired by Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra.

As previously reported by KNO, the Congress is pressing for the allotment of a safer seat-one of those notified by the Election Commission of India through the first and second notifications. However, the National Conference has offered Congress a seat notified under the third notification, for which the alliance holds 24 second-preference votes after securing 29 first-preference votes, enough to ensure the victory of one candidate. The BJP, however, has 28 votes in this seat.

In the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the ruling alliance has 53 members, while the BJP holds 28 members—(KNO

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Mehbooba Mufti Announces ‘Anti-Bulldozer Bill’ to Protect Land Rights in Jammu and Kashmir

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Anti-Bulldozer Bill

 PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today announced that the party will introduce The Jammu and Kashmir Land Rights and Regularisation Bill, 2025 — also known as the Anti-Bulldozer Bill — in the forthcoming session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The proposed legislation aims to regularise land holdings of individuals, families, and institutions who have been in continuous possession of land for over 30 years, thereby securing ownership rights, preventing arbitrary evictions, and ensuring social and economic stability across Jammu and Kashmir.

Highlighting the ongoing land and lease crisis in Gulmarg and other parts of Kashmir, Mufti said that the Land Grant Rules, 2022 have ended the renewal of old leases, putting dozens of hotels operating on expired leases at risk of eviction or government takeover through auction.

Nearly 60 hotels in Gulmarg, including heritage establishments such as Nedous and Highlands Park, have received takeover notices from the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA). Hoteliers who have invested heavily now face severe financial distress, legal uncertainty, and threats to livelihoods.

She further said that the absence of a clear government policy on lease renewal and land regularisation has created deep uncertainty, hurting tourism, local employment, and investor confidence in Kashmir’s hospitality sector.

Despite repeated promises by the Chief Minister to protect the land rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, no concrete policy or legal stand has yet been taken to safeguard these rights in courts, she added.

Mufti confirmed that PDP MLAs have already submitted the Bill for inclusion in the upcoming Assembly session, reaffirming the Party’s commitment to protecting people’s land rights and ensuring legal security for all long-standing occupants.

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