Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha election results in Kashmir sprung a few surprises as former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were defeated by lesser-known candidates. While Mufti lost to Gujjar leader and National Conference candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad by a huge margin in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, Abdullah was defeated by former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid in Baramulla.
Also to fall by the wayside wasPeople’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone in the Baramulla seat in north Kashmir.
Rashid, a 56-year-old former MLA from the Langate assembly segment in Kupwara district, was arrested in 2019 and charged by the NIAunder UAPA. He was the first mainstream politician to be booked under the anti-terror law. His campaign was run by his son Abrar, who thanked people for their “love and support”.
“I am thankful to people who not only supported our campaign but showered their love and converted it into votes as well. Winning or losing doesn’t matter much to us. What matters to me is the love we got from the people,” Abrar told reporters after his father took a substantial lead.
