Ruling parties lost four of the eight Assembly constituencies across five States and one Union Territory that went to byelection on November 11. The National Conference (NC) suffered a major setback in its stronghold in Jammu and Kashmir, while the Congress registered gains in Rajasthan and Telangana.

It was a surprise outcome in Budgam as the Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wrested the seat from the NC, marking the party’s first-ever defeat in the central Kashmir stronghold since Assembly elections began in 1957.

PDP candidate Aga Syed Muntazir defeated NC’s Aga Syed Mehmood by 4,478 votes. The seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated it last year, opting to retain Ganderbal.

The BJP secured a win in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nagrota constituency, where Devyan

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