Srinagar bypoll results: NC chief Farooq Abdullah wins

Out of the nine candidates in the fray, Abdullah seized the Srinagar-Budgam constituency seat in a fight with ruling People's Democratic Party's Nazir Khan.

The leader of opposition in Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah won the Srinagar bypoll with a landslide margin on Saturday. The counting of votes began at 8 am and the National conference chief took the lead right from round one. Out of the nine candidates in the fray, Abdullah seized the Srinagar-Budgam constituency seat in a fight with ruling People's Democratic Party's Nazir Khan. Abdullah polled 35,470 out of the total 62,905 votes in Srinagar while PDP's Khan polled 24,879 votes. The total number of electors in Srinagar is 12,61,862 but only 62,905 voted in the bypoll.

It may be noted that amid unrest, the Srinagar bypoll saw a mere 7 per cent voter turnout. The number for the repolling that was conducted in 38 polling stations on Friday was an abysmal 2 per cent voter turnout. Farooq Abdullah had faced shocking defeat in the same constituency in 2014 and had taken up the bypoll as a personal challenge. While thanking the people for the victory, Abdullah said that the PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir needs to go.

Abdullah maintained lead and kept extending his margin with each round of counting that was held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre. The counting of migrant votes also took place simultaneously in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi. The bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held on April 9 and repolling in 38 polling booths was held on Friday. The bypoll was marred with violence which killed eight people and dozens injured. Clashes were witnessed between the forces and stone-pelters in the region.

OneIndia News