NEW DELHI: As other politicians and party members switched on their televisions to see the assembly election results on Tuesday morning, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah went on a 7,000km run. Posting some selfies on X, he wrote: "Counting day 7K done. Last time around it didn’t end well for me personally. InshaAllah this time around it will be better."
It was indeed better for him this time. Just few months ago, Omar Abdullah contested Lok Sabha elections but lost the Lok Sabha elections to jailed Engineer Rashid from Baramulla constituency.
This time, however, things have changed for both Omar Abdullah and his party.
The NC leader, who initially refused to contest assembly elections till statehood of Jammu and Kashmir was restored, finally threw his hat in the race and contested from two seats. For the better part of the last five years, the 54-year-old former Union minister had ruled out his participation in the assembly polls in a Union territory set up. He had gone to the extent of saying that he would not humiliate himself by entering the Vidhan Sabha of a Union Territory.
On the state level, his party emerged as the single largest party with 41 seats, according to Election Commission website at 4.30 pm. The party's alliance partner Congress secured 6 seats.
It was also a prestige battle for Omar Abdullah. The significance of Abdullah's re-election bid from Ganderbal, the constituency he represented during his tenure as chief minister, was evident from his emotional appeal to the people when he filed his nomination. At a workers' meeting in the party office, the NC vice president removed his cap and held it in his hands, imploring the people to vote for him, saying, "my honour lay in your hands".
Abdullah's sons, Zahir and Zamir, also actively campaigned for their father, while NC president Farooq Abdullah also addressed rallies to support his son's candidacy. When Omar Abdullah took over the leadership of the NC from his father in 2002, he contested the assembly polls from Ganderbal but lost to the PDP's Qazi Mohammad Afzal. However, he regained the seat from Afzal in the 2008 polls and became the youngest chief minister of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
As elections were held after a decade in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah's bet finally paid off as his party along with ally Congress secured 48 seats of 90, with NC emerging the single largest party with 42 seats.
Farooq Abdullah has already announced that his son Omar will be the next chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
The assembly election, held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, is perhaps a redemption of sorts for the National Conference leader.
And he has emerged a winner on both the seats -– Ganderbal and Budgam.
It was indeed better for him this time. Just few months ago, Omar Abdullah contested Lok Sabha elections but lost the Lok Sabha elections to jailed Engineer Rashid from Baramulla constituency.
This time, however, things have changed for both Omar Abdullah and his party.
The NC leader, who initially refused to contest assembly elections till statehood of Jammu and Kashmir was restored, finally threw his hat in the race and contested from two seats. For the better part of the last five years, the 54-year-old former Union minister had ruled out his participation in the assembly polls in a Union territory set up. He had gone to the extent of saying that he would not humiliate himself by entering the Vidhan Sabha of a Union Territory.
On the state level, his party emerged as the single largest party with 41 seats, according to Election Commission website at 4.30 pm. The party's alliance partner Congress secured 6 seats.
It was also a prestige battle for Omar Abdullah. The significance of Abdullah's re-election bid from Ganderbal, the constituency he represented during his tenure as chief minister, was evident from his emotional appeal to the people when he filed his nomination. At a workers' meeting in the party office, the NC vice president removed his cap and held it in his hands, imploring the people to vote for him, saying, "my honour lay in your hands".
Abdullah's sons, Zahir and Zamir, also actively campaigned for their father, while NC president Farooq Abdullah also addressed rallies to support his son's candidacy. When Omar Abdullah took over the leadership of the NC from his father in 2002, he contested the assembly polls from Ganderbal but lost to the PDP's Qazi Mohammad Afzal. However, he regained the seat from Afzal in the 2008 polls and became the youngest chief minister of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
As elections were held after a decade in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah's bet finally paid off as his party along with ally Congress secured 48 seats of 90, with NC emerging the single largest party with 42 seats.
Farooq Abdullah has already announced that his son Omar will be the next chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
The assembly election, held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, is perhaps a redemption of sorts for the National Conference leader.
And he has emerged a winner on both the seats -– Ganderbal and Budgam.
You may also like
Arvind Kejriwal calls AAP first time winner in J&K polls
LIV Golf star reveals private conversation with Phil Mickelson that says it all
How THESE 23 Countries Act Swiftly to Evacuate Citizens from Lebanon Amid Escalating Conflict
Novak Djokovic makes retirement vow and shares sneak peak of 2025 schedule plans
