The Election Commission of India has announced bypolls for Budgam and Nagrota assembly seats. The voting will take place on November 11, and the results will be declared on November 14. The Budgam seat fell vacant when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah decided to keep Ganderbal. During last year’s elections, he had won both seats, defeating his opponents by wide margins.

Budgam lies at the doorstep of Srinagar, but feels far from it in every sense. Drive through Palar, Wahabpora, Garend, Paimus, Nasrullahpora, or Sholipora, and it’s easy to forget that this is one of the closest districts to the summer capital. The roads are broken, the water is unsafe, and the electricity flickers through the night. The air carries a thick mix of dust and smoke, a constant reminder of what unplanned mining an

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