Two former J-K CMs Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti concede defeat in Lok Sabha polls

"I think it's time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir," Abdullah said in a post on X.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti  (File Photo | PTI)

SRINAGAR: Two former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have conceded defeat from the Lok Sabha seats the two contested in Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar, who was involved in a triangular contest from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, conceded defeat to jailed ex MLA Er Rashid.

Er Rashid, who has so far secured 350858 votes, is leading over Omar Abdullah by 191124 votes.

“I think it’s time to accept the inevitable. 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 tweeted.

Er Rashid is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar hail in a UAPA case. He is under detention since August 2019.

In absence, his sons campaigned for him and their appeal seems to have worked on the ground with their jailed father receiving sympathy votes.

Meanwhile, another former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has also conceded defeat.

Mehbooba was involved in a triangular contest from Anantnag seat and conceded defeat to NC’s Mian Altaf, who has so far got 4,82,123 votes with a lead of over 2.54 lakh votes.

“Respecting the verdict of the people I thank my PDP workers & leaders for their hard work & support despite all the odds. My deepest gratitude to the people who voted for me. Winning & losing is part of the game & wont deter us from our path,” Mehbooba tweeted.

National Conference Gujjar leader Mian Altaf is leading from the seat by over 2.29 lakh votes, according to the latest EC figures.

Abdullah also congratulated his party colleagues Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Mian Altaf who are leading by huge margins from Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seats respectively.

"To my @JKNC_ colleagues @RuhullahMehdi & Mian Altaf Sb my heartfelt congratulations. I'm sorry I won't be joining them in the Lok Sabha but I'm sure both of them will do an amazing job representing the people of J&K," Abdullah said in his post.