Igrew up hearing that Budgam never strayed far from the National Conference.

The seat carried the memory of old leaders, family ties and a sense of loyalty that moved from one generation to the next.

People often spoke of the place as if it had a natural pull toward the party. Ten out of eleven elections since 1962 had gone its way. The only exception came in 1972 when a Congress candidate won for a single term.

That history shaped the way many looked at this year’s byelection. The expectation felt fixed. A surprise seemed unlikely.

The result forced a pause.

The PDP candidate, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, defeated NC’s Aga Syed Mehmood by more than five thousand votes.

The margin shocked even those who believed Budgam was restless.

A fall from 36,000 votes polled by Omar Abdullah in th

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