Omar Abdullah Questions Rashid’s Victory: Will It Lead to Prison Releases?

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah conceded defeat to independent candidate Engineer Rashid in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. In a social media post on X, Omar acknowledged the verdict of the electorate, saying, “It is time to accept the inevitable. The voters have spoken.”

He extended his congratulations to Rashid, who is currently in prison while expressing scepticism about the immediate impact of this victory on Rashid’s release or the representation of the people of north Kashmir.

“Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in north Kashmir. 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 posted on X.

He expressed his satisfaction over the INDIA bloc’s performance despite his defeat in the Baramulla constituency. “Dil khush hua (The heart is happy),” Abdullah remarked, acknowledging that the BJP would now need to form a coalition government.

In a brief interaction with reporters, Omar reflected on the unexpected outcome of the elections.

“Koi bhi exit polls ke baad ye soch bhi nahi sakta tha ki itni achhi performance Opposition ki rahegi. BJP jo 370 ki baat kar rahe the, jo 400 paar ki baat kar rahe the, ab unko coalition government chalani hogi (No one could have imagined after the exit polls that the opposition would perform so well. BJP, who were talking about 370, who were talking about 400, will now have to run a coalition government),” he told reporters here.