SRINAGAR: Elections have a way of getting in the way of expectations. Abdul Rashid Sheikh, aka Engineer Rashid , was in Tihar Jail when he pulled off — in absentia — a giant-killing act in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency that few could have imagined, much less anticipate.
The buzz was that Rashid's fellow contestants, Omar Abdullah of National Conference and Sajad Gani Lone of People's Conference , would find it hard to live down the chastening defeat by over two lakh votes each at the hands of a rival incarcerated in a terror funding case.
Barely four months later, Omar is on his way to becoming CM for the second time, Lone has retained his Handwara seat, and Rashid has been left contemplating what is it about electoral sentiment that can change faster than the seasons.
Langate, where Rashid fielded his brother Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, was the lone bright spot for his fledgling Awami Ittehad Party among the 34 contests it was part of in J&K's first assembly election as a Union territory.
"Power is not a permanent thing...The world is watching us," Rashid said as counting of votes started Tuesday morning.
The context of the remark was different – he was speaking about "letting the people of J&K live and enjoy their rights” – but this might well have been the electorate's voice in Rashid's ear by the end of the day.
Much of the voters' disenchantment with Rashid's outfit, which is still to be recognised by the Election Commission, was possibly influenced by how his rivals ran their campaign. His release on bail from Sept 11 to Oct 2, coinciding with the three-phase election, led Omar to brand him a "BJP proxy".
Rashid contested the charge, saying Omar should have known better, having "enjoyed life in Gulmarg and London" while he was languishing in jail for five years. "He should have learnt his lesson when I defeated him by over two lakh votes."
Soon after Tuesday's verdict, Rashid attributed the defeat of all but one of his 34 candidates to Omar and Sajad Lone ganging up to defeat them. "Can Omar tell us now who is BJP's B team?" he said.
"Senior BJP functionary Tarun Chugh openly told Farooq Abdullah that if he revealed who all secretly meet the party brass, the political careers of many would be over. Why has NC not said anything about it?"
The buzz was that Rashid's fellow contestants, Omar Abdullah of National Conference and Sajad Gani Lone of People's Conference , would find it hard to live down the chastening defeat by over two lakh votes each at the hands of a rival incarcerated in a terror funding case.
Barely four months later, Omar is on his way to becoming CM for the second time, Lone has retained his Handwara seat, and Rashid has been left contemplating what is it about electoral sentiment that can change faster than the seasons.
Langate, where Rashid fielded his brother Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, was the lone bright spot for his fledgling Awami Ittehad Party among the 34 contests it was part of in J&K's first assembly election as a Union territory.
"Power is not a permanent thing...The world is watching us," Rashid said as counting of votes started Tuesday morning.
The context of the remark was different – he was speaking about "letting the people of J&K live and enjoy their rights” – but this might well have been the electorate's voice in Rashid's ear by the end of the day.
Much of the voters' disenchantment with Rashid's outfit, which is still to be recognised by the Election Commission, was possibly influenced by how his rivals ran their campaign. His release on bail from Sept 11 to Oct 2, coinciding with the three-phase election, led Omar to brand him a "BJP proxy".
Rashid contested the charge, saying Omar should have known better, having "enjoyed life in Gulmarg and London" while he was languishing in jail for five years. "He should have learnt his lesson when I defeated him by over two lakh votes."
Soon after Tuesday's verdict, Rashid attributed the defeat of all but one of his 34 candidates to Omar and Sajad Lone ganging up to defeat them. "Can Omar tell us now who is BJP's B team?" he said.
"Senior BJP functionary Tarun Chugh openly told Farooq Abdullah that if he revealed who all secretly meet the party brass, the political careers of many would be over. Why has NC not said anything about it?"
You may also like
New Mexican mayor found decapitated in his car just six days into the job
Miranda Hart reveals strange way she met husband after falling ill and odd nickname
Incredible new £3.5bn 'UK Disneyland' now on 'brink of collapse'
'Hunt for missing mum is giving me nightmares - I'm so worried they'll find my daughter instead'
