JAMMU: PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir, who won the Budgam assembly seat vacated by Omar Abdullah in the Nov 2025 bypoll despite an intensive campaign by the CM and his Cabinet, has said his first experience in the J&K Assembly has been positive and that the House remains a powerful institution even though its powers were curtailed after abrogation of Article 370 on Aug 5, 2019, and the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir state into a union territory.“I am hopeful that the eroded political space in J&K can be reclaimed through this institution and that people’s rights can be restored to some extent. The legitimacy people have given to the Assembly demands that it works in that spirit,” Muntazir told the TOI outside the Assembly on Friday.“We should not say the J&K Assembly is disempowered. No party or legislator should say this. We should not use discouraging words or claim that nothing can be done through this Assembly. Even in the present setup, the Assembly is a powerful institution,” he said.“After Aug 5, 2019, people gave legitimacy to this Assembly by participating in the polls in large, unprecedented numbers not seen in the past 36 years. Now you cannot tell the same people that it is a disempowered Assembly. We must strive for political rights of J&K, but at the same time the legitimacy of this Assembly shouldn’t be negated,” he added.Muntazir, 38, entered the Assembly for the first time after winning the Budgam seat, defeating National Conference candidate Aga Syed Mahmood by 4,478 votes.The bypoll defeat was a major setback for the CM who had vacated the Budgam seat in 2024 after winning from it.Muntazir is the son of Aga Syed Hasan, a senior Shia cleric and former leader of separatist conglomerate All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Muntazir earlier worked as a grassroots activist before entering electoral politics.Muntazir, who holds an LLM degree, said Budgam has suffered nearly two decades of neglect despite its proximity to Srinagar. Since joining the Assembly, he regularly raises concerns about roads, education, drinking water and healthcare in his constituency, where literacy levels remain low. “In the past 20 years, the same party (NC) represented Budgam. People were given only rhetoric, but political rhetoric has a shelf life,” he said. “The people voted for change because their dignity and basic needs were ignored for a long time.”He said the CM had earlier assured the establishment of a National Law University in Budgam and the promise was made in the House. “It must be honoured. The empowerment of the J&K Assembly lies in delivering what is promised in the House,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Got Assurance From India…’ Marco Rubio On Russian Oil After Trade DealIn Munich, Jaishankar Backs Multipolar Order, EU FTA And UNSC Reform, Calls For Agile Foreign Policy’Alliances Fluid, Might Rising’: CDS Gen Anil Chauhan Warns India Must Prepare To Act IndependentlyMetro Line-4 Viaduct Part Collapses In Mulund, One Killed, Three Injured“Congress Failed The Northeast” PM Modi Slams Congress Over Assam’s GrowthRahul Gandhi Flags Dhaka Zero Duty Edge In US Trade Deal; Piyush Goyal Mounts Strong RebuttalDeadly Joyride: Teen Driving SUV At 160 Kmph Triggers Chain Crash In Bengaluru, 6 Students DeadEU Holds Back Laughter As US Credits Itself On Stopping India Pakistan War, Questions UN On KashmirPM Modi Makes Historic Landing At Dibrugarh ELF, Rafale And Sukhoi Jets Mark India’s Strategic PushPM Modi Opens Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, Rs 3000 Crore Bridge Cuts Guwahati Travel Time To 7 Minutes123PhotostoriesMaha Shivratri 2026: Nutrient-rich Almond, Banana & Peanut Smoothie for all-day energyMaha Shivratri 2026: 10 traditional foods that are offered to Lord Shiva and whyTop 5 Margot Robbie movies that are a must-watch on OTT5 invisible AI features in modern luxury cars that drivers rarely noticeAfter Shahid Kapoor led ‘O’Romeo,’ 6 Bollywood gangster films to stream on OTT that are inspired by the underworldMargot Robbie’s most iconic on-screen looks: Gothic lore, barbiecore and beyond5 famous global fabrics you didn’t know were originally IndianMaha Shivratri 2026: How to make Sabudana Tikki for evening snackingHistoric touchdown in Assam: PM Modi lands at Northeast’s first highway ELF; IAF stages aerial show — In picsTop 5 real estate hotspots in Navi Mumbai driving investment and residential demand in 2026123Hot PicksIT Stocks CrashGold Silver PricesBangladesh Election ResultsTelangana Municipal Elections ResultsIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingPatrick MahomesBad BunnyJosh MorrisseyJutta LeerdamAuston MatthewsKayla NicoleAnthony JoshuaChris PaulDarron LeeKyle Busch Net Worth
JAMMU: PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir, who won the Budgam assembly seat vacated by Omar Abdullah in the Nov 2025 bypoll despite an intensive campaign by the CM and his Cabinet, has said his first experience in the J&K Assembly has been positive and that the House remains a powerful institution even though its powers were curtailed after abrogation of Article 370 on Aug 5, 2019, and the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir state into a union territory.“I am hopeful that the eroded political space in J&K can be reclaimed through this institution and that people’s rights can be restored to some extent. The legitimacy people have given to the Assembly demands that it works in that spirit,” Muntazir told the TOI outside the Assembly on Friday.“We should not say the J&K Assembly is disempowered. No party or legislator should say this. We should not use discouraging words or claim that nothing can be done through this Assembly. Even in the present setup, the Assembly is a powerful institution,” he said.“After Aug 5, 2019, people gave legitimacy to this Assembly by participating in the polls in large, unprecedented numbers not seen in the past 36 years. Now you cannot tell the same people that it is a disempowered Assembly. We must strive for political rights of J&K, but at the same time the legitimacy of this Assembly shouldn’t be negated,” he added.Muntazir, 38, entered the Assembly for the first time after winning the Budgam seat, defeating National Conference candidate Aga Syed Mahmood by 4,478 votes.The bypoll defeat was a major setback for the CM who had vacated the Budgam seat in 2024 after winning from it.Muntazir is the son of Aga Syed Hasan, a senior Shia cleric and former leader of separatist conglomerate All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Muntazir earlier worked as a grassroots activist before entering electoral politics.Muntazir, who holds an LLM degree, said Budgam has suffered nearly two decades of neglect despite its proximity to Srinagar. Since joining the Assembly, he regularly raises concerns about roads, education, drinking water and healthcare in his constituency, where literacy levels remain low. “In the past 20 years, the same party (NC) represented Budgam. People were given only rhetoric, but political rhetoric has a shelf life,” he said. “The people voted for change because their dignity and basic needs were ignored for a long time.”He said the CM had earlier assured the establishment of a National Law University in Budgam and the promise was made in the House. “It must be honoured. The empowerment of the J&K Assembly lies in delivering what is promised in the House,” he said.
