Srinagar- It cost only Rs 27,000 to campaign and defeat National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla seat, said 22-year-old Abrar Rashid, son of jailed leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid.
“The mandate is the victory of the people,” said Abrar.
Omar Abdullah conceded defeat as the counting of votes was still underway. He said the voters have spoken and in a democracy that is all that matters.
“I think it’s time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir,” Mr Abdullah said in a post on X. “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.”
Sheikh Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid has been in Tihar jail for the last five years on terror funding charges. Abrar says the massive mandate for his father is proof of his innocence and he should be released immediately to represent his people.
The 22-year-old says that at the beginning when his father had thrown his name for the Baramulla seat, there were only a few people around to support him. However, gradually thousands rallied behind him and a massive wave was created for the jailed leader.
Abrar said that Rs 27,000 was spent on fuel changes for his vehicle. “Thousands of volunteers contributed to campaigning and ensured a massive victory,” said Abrar.
Rashid secured a total of 4,72,481 votes followed by Omar Abdullah of National Conference with 2,68,339 votes. Sajad Lone of Peoples Conference received a total of 1,73,239 votes.
Earlier, the candidature of incarcerated former MLA and AIP Chairman, Engineer Rashid had changed the election scenario in the Baramulla constituency of North Kashmir.
Rashid’s son Abrar Rashid, took on the monumental task of campaigning for his father, which resulted in victory with a huge margin.
Abrar (26) is a student, pursuing MSc at Islamia College of Srinagar.
With limited resources and his father’s absence, Abrar managed a magical campaign, reaching out to the grassroots, with the emotional resonance of his father’s plight.
Travelling across the constituency, Abrar and his brother Asrar met with the people, addressing their concerns and conveyed his jailed father’s vision for the future.
Using social media, a powerful tool, Abrar used it to highlight his father’s incarceration, garnering sympathy and support from a broad spectrum of the electorate, especially young and the first time voters.
The efforts and the emotional appeal added a personal touch that resonated deeply with voters.
“I promise, the day my father will be in the parliament, he will bring the jailed people out,” Abrar had said, in one of his speeches during campaigning.
“You have to come out on the polling day May 20 and build the pressure of the cooker ‘Pressure Cooker, AIP party’s symbol’, in a way that can break the locks of the Tihar Jail,” he asked people.
Meanwhile, with the unexpected results, Er Rashid, through the tireless efforts of his son, defeated seasoned politicians Omar Abdullah and Sajad Gani Lone, which indicated a clear message from the people “a call for justice, change and a new political order”.
Abrar thanked people, who came out in support of them in a large number. “I thank everyone who came out to vote for my father, with the same enthusiasm they showed during campaigns,” he said.
He said that people, who were criticising their moves and campaigns, stating their supporters are non-voters and they (AIP) had miscalculated, must have got the clear message from the people, and he’s sure that they won’t find it easy to calculate their votes.
“It was not his own decision to take part in the process, but the political affairs committee, who decided that Er Rashid should fight the election and I as a campaigner, being his elder son,” Abrar said.
He said that initially he faced challenges, as being inexperienced, however, the support, especially from youth, made him proceed. “I believe youth are the game changers and it’s the responsibility of the government to provide them a safe environment, taking today’s participation as an example, the government should make the lives of youth easier and safer,” he said.
Abrar didn’t rule out the support of the other political as well as social activists, saying it was only possible due to their support and love, who stood with him from the day first. “They supported us in a time when the AIP was politically weak,” he said, while thanking the political supporters.
“As of now, I am studying. Let my exams finish first, I will see the future of my political career (if it happens) later,” Abrar said upon being asked if he joins the same line.
Notably, Awami Itihad Party’s supremo Er Rashid stood tall in the Baramulla parliamentary constituency Lok Sabha elections. He got the massive support and a huge success with over all 472481 votes
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also conceded defeat from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat.
“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 & won’t deter us from our path,” Ms Mufti posted on X at 1.58 pm.
National Conference Gujjar leader Mian Altaf is leading from the seat, according to the latest Election Commission data.
Mr 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,” Mr Abdullah said in his post.
Voting was held for 543 Lok Sabha seats over seven phases, which ended on Saturday. The majority mark is 272.
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