Srinagar, Oct 8: It was a journey marked by determination, resilience, and an unyielding spirit. Omar Abdullah, the man who once chose to step away from the electoral battleground, is now at the pinnacle of a resounding political comeback. After facing a defeat in the parliamentary elections and vowing not to contest the Assembly elections while Jammu and Kashmir remained a Union Territory, Omar has not only contested but triumphed — winning from two key constituencies and leading his party, the National Conference (NC), to a sweeping majority.
The man who stood firm like a rock amid a storm of political salvos from heavyweights like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the fierce independent leader Er Rasheed, has emerged victorious. Omar Abdullah, now hailed as the “man of the match,” weathered the opposition’s attacks with calm determination, driving NC to one of its most significant electoral victories in recent memory.
In a historic win, Omar secured victory from both the Budgam and Ganderbal Assembly constituencies. In Budgam, he defeated People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazir, son of the influential Shia leader Aga Syed Hassan, by an impressive margin of 18,485 votes. Omar garnered 36,010 votes against Muntazir’s 17,525, a remarkable leap from the last election when NC’s Aga Ruhullah Mehdi won by a margin of just 2,787 votes.
For Omar, the road to victory wasn’t merely a personal triumph; it was a declaration of NC’s renewed political relevance in Jammu and Kashmir. His leadership, strategy, and ability to connect with voters during this pivotal election have revitalized the party, earning NC a thumping majority in the first Assembly elections held after the abrogation of Article 370.
As junior Abdullah prepares to step into the role of Chief Minister once again, the mood within the NC is jubilant. The party faithful, who had stood by him through a decade of political uncertainty, now see a new chapter unfolding for both Omar Abdullah and the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the face of opposition from powerful rivals, Omar’s message has been clear: he is not just a leader who wins elections, but one who stands steadfast in his commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, carving a path for the future with the strength and resilience of a plough pushing through the toughest terrain.
