Srinagar, Nov 14: In an unusual electoral trend in the Budgam Assembly bypoll, the None of the Above (NOTA) option has surged ahead of seven candidates after the completion of the eighth round of counting.
According to the latest figures from the counting centre, NOTA has secured 324 votes, placing it ahead of several contestants from both national and lesser-known political parties. NOTA currently stands at –11,399 behind the leading candidate, but its position ahead of multiple nominees has drawn significant attention.
Among the trailing candidates, Deeba Khan of the Aam Aadmi Party has polled 243 votes (–11,480), followed by Aditi Sharma, an Independent, with 205 votes (–11,518). Shabir Ahmad Ganie of the National Loktantrik Party has obtained 141 votes (–11,582), while Manzoor Ahmad Ganie of the Rashtriya Lok Dal is slightly behind with 136 votes (–11,587).
Further down the list, Mohammad Shafi Shah of the Sampoorna Bharat Kranti Party has received 124 votes (–11,599), and Parvej Ahmad Mir of the Republican Party of India (A) has secured 103 votes (–11,620). Farooq Ahmad of the Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party (Bhim) is currently last among this group, recording 44 votes (–11,679).
