Srinagar, Oct. 22 -- Seventeen candidates have been cleared to contest the upcoming Budgam Assembly by-election, setting the stage for a highly competitive electoral battle in the central Kashmir constituency.

Election officials said a total of 20 candidates had filed their nomination papers for the by-election, but the forms of three candidates were rejected during the scrutiny process conducted on Wednesday under the supervision of election authorities.

The bypoll, scheduled for next month, has drawn significant attention as major political parties gear up for the contest. Candidates from the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Apni Party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Awami Itehad Party (A...