SRINAGAR: “I think it’s time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir,” were the words of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while taking to his official X handle on June 4, at a time when the counting trends were visibly showing the outcome, and accepted his defeat. “I don’t believe his victory will hasten his release from prison nor will the people of North Kashmir get the representation they have a right to but the voters have spoken and in a democracy that’s all that matters.”
Omar was contesting in the polls from the Baramulla constituency where he was pitted in a triangular contest against jailed politician Engineer Rasheed and Sajad Lone, a BJP-supported candidate. Eventually, Omar lost and Lone survived forfeiture of his deposit by emerging the No 3.
It was not Omar alone, who lost. Another former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti also lost her election to JKNC leader and Gujjar spiritual leader Mian Altaf, again by a huge margin. At some point in time when Home Minister, Amit Shah visited Srinagar at the peak of campaigning and avoided staying at Nehru Guest House and the Raj Bhawan, a rumour was around that the Government of India was “concerned” at the prospect of two former Chief Minister’s reaching the Lok Sabha. Results ensured that neither of the two moved out of Srinagar.
As the vote counting was at an advanced stage and she trailed too far, she realised her defeat. “Respecting the verdict of the people I thank my PDP workers & leaders for their hard work & support despite all the odds,” she wrote on X. “My deepest gratitude to the people who voted for me. Winning & losing is part of the game & won’t deter us from our path.” Added her daughter Iltija Mufti: “Our journey of rebuilding PDP has only begun and Inshallah we will fulfil Mufti sahab’s vision.”
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