Omar Abdullah Defeated, Son Leads Jailed Engineer Rashid To The Finish Line

Abrar Rashid has had one of the most watched political debuts in Jammu and Kashmir. Wherever he went, seeking votes on behalf of his jailed father, former MLA Abdul Rashid Sheikh, better known as Engineer Rashid, Abrar was greeted by a sea of supporters. Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) is now heading for a stunning win in Baramulla.

Abrar’s campaign speeches were punctuated with slogans such as: “‘Bandeporeok vote kas, Engineras beye kas’ (Bandipora will vote for, Engineer who else)”. Today, June 4, Abdul Rashid has been chosen by the voters of Baramulla, even as he himself remains behind bars.

Omar Abdullah, Vice President of Jammu Kashmir National Conference, conceded defeat by afternoon saying, “I think it’s time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir.”

As reported by The Citizen, Abrar, who is in his 20s, had addressed massive gatherings with ease, as he campaigned extensively on behalf of his jailed father. Engineer Rashid contested from the Baramulla parliamentary seat as an independent candidate. Today, the family, and their supporters are celebrating quietly, even as the man of the hour is not present.

Abrar had been pleasantly surprised when he began the election campaign from May 7. wasn’t expecting such an overwhelming response,” Abrar had then said. Engineer Rashid’s entry into the electoral contest introduced a new dynamic to the ongoing competition between National Conference’s (NC) Omar Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference’s (JKPC) Sajad Lone.

Political observers had predicted that the incarcerated former legislator was ‘the X-factor’ in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. In the last parliamentary elections, Rashid had polled over 1 lakh votes, but lost to National Conference’s Akbar Lone.

Here are exclusive images by of his sone celebrating after the trends showed his win on June 4: