Srinagar- In a resounding victory in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the National Conference (NC) clinched victory from all the five seats in Budgam district, leaving no room for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or other parties to make a mark.
This sweeping win comes as the first assembly election held in the region after a decade, marking a significant milestone for NC.
NC quickly took the lead in all five assembly constituencies of Budgam district, which include Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahab, Charar-e-Sharief and Chadoora.
By the end of the day, these initial leads translated into confirmed victories for the party, solidifying their dominance in the district.
The first declared victory came from Khansahab constituency, where NC’s Saif Ud Din Bhat defeated PDF’s Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen by a wide margin of 11,614 votes.
Soon, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emerged victorious in Budgam constituency, defeating PDP’s Agha Muntazir Mehndi by 18,485 votes.
Beerwah saw NC’s Shafi Ahmad Wani secure a win with a margin of 4,161 votes, while in Chadoora, Ali Mohammad Dar achieved a decisive victory with a 17,218-vote lead.
Finally, Abdullah Rahim Rather claimed Charar-e-Sharief with a margin of 11,496 votes.
Celebrations erupted across Budgam as the results were confirmed, with NC supporters chanting slogans such as “Zoun ho, zoun ho”, Omar Hamara Buland sitara” and “Ab ki baar NC sarkar,” along with praises for Omar Abdullah, the party’s prominent figure.
Late-night gatherings were held at the homes of the winning candidates as people celebrated this landslide victory.
This election marks a significant turnaround for the National Conference in Budgam compared to the 2014 elections when they managed to secure only two seats in the district.
In those elections, Omar Abdullah won the Beerwah seat by a narrow margin of 910 votes, while Aga Ruhullah claimed Budgam with a margin of 2,787. This year, however, NC swept the district, leaving the PDP and other parties unable to secure even a single seat.
NC Sweeps Baramulla Assembly Constituencies, Congress Secures One Seat
In a sweeping victory, the National Conference (NC) has secured a strong foothold in the Baramulla district by winning a majority of the assembly seats, while the Indian National Congress (INC) claimed one.
The political landscape of Baramulla saw significant shifts, as seasoned politicians and new contenders battled it out for control of this key district.
Javaid Hassan Baig of NC retained his seat in the Baramulla Assembly constituency, securing 22,523 votes, defeating Shoaib Nabi Lone, an AIP-backed candidate, by a margin of 11,773 votes. Despite fierce campaigning from his rivals, Baig’s established presence and previous tenure as MLA in 2014 helped him secure a convincing victory.
In the neighbouring Sopore constituency, Irshad Rasool Kar pulled off a landslide victory, securing 26,783 votes and defeating his opponent Mursaleen Aajir by a massive 20,220 votes. The two-time MLA Abdul Rashid Dar of INC trailed far behind with only 5,127 votes.
In the Gulmarg constituency, NC’s Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah emerged victorious with 26,984 votes, defeating Ghulam Hassan Mir, a former MLA, by a margin of 4,191 votes. Similarly, in Rafiabad, NC’s Javid Ahmed Dar clinched the seat with 28,783 votes, defeating Yawer Ahmad Mir of the JK Apni Party by a margin of 9,202 votes. Dar, a former MLA, reclaimed his seat after his prior win in 2008, while Yawer Mir, despite contesting as a PDP candidate in 2014, failed to regain his former momentum.
In Pattan, NC’s Javaid Riyaz Bedar, a former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), narrowly defeated Imran Raza Ansari of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) by 603 votes, securing 29,893 votes to Ansari’s 29,290 votes. The closely contested race surprised many, as Ansari’s defeat marked a potential shift in voter sentiment in a constituency long dominated by the People’s Conference.
In Uri, NC’s Sajjad Shafi won a resounding victory, securing the seat with a margin of 39,713 votes, defeating former minister Taj Mohi ud Din, who trailed by 14,469 votes.
The only seat secured by the Indian National Congress (INC) was in Wagoora-Kreeri, where Irfan Hafiz Lone defeated two-time MLA Syed Basharat Bukhari of the PDP. Lone garnered 17,002 votes, defeating Bukhari by a margin of 7,751 votes. Irfan, who played a crucial role in maintaining the unity of the Congress-NC alliance, capitalized on his grassroots support and achievements during his tenure as DDC Sangrama.
A total number of 107 candidates including 51 independents were in the contest across the seven assembly constituencies in Baramulla district, with several prominent figures in race.
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