NC wins 6 seats in Baramulla, Congress 1

Baramulla, Oct 8: National Conference (NC) on Tuesday achieved a sweeping victory in the J&K assembly polls in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Of the seven assembly constituencies, NC secured six seats while one seat was clinched by NC’s alliance partner, Congress’ candidate Irfan Hafeez Lone from Wagoora-Kreeri constituency.

Baramulla was buzzing with celebrations with NC supporters bursting crackers and dancing on roads to celebrate the victory of their candidates.

NC candidate from the Baramulla constituency Javid Hassan Baig emerged victorious, securing 22,523 votes against his opponent independent candidate Shoaib Nabi Lone who lost the election by 11,773 votes. Lone got only 10,750 votes while the former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig got only 5872 votes.

Notably, the NC-Congress alliance partners had earlier decided to go for a friendly contest in Baramulla and Congress fielded Mir Iqbal Ahmad from the constituency.

However, he got only 4669 votes and figured at 4th slot in the list.

In the Gulmarg constituency, NC candidate Farooq Ahmad Shah took a lead of 4191 votes against Apni Party candidate Ghulam Hassan Mir.

While Shah got 26,984 votes, Mir got 22,793.

In the Pattan constituency, NC candidate Javaid Reyaz Bedar defeated Peoples Conference (PC) candidate Imran Raza Ansari by a margin of 603 votes.

Bedar got 29,893 votes against 29,290 votes polled in favour of Ansari.

NC candidate from Rafiabad, Javid Ahmad Dar defeated his opponent Yawar Ahmad Mir of Apni Party by a margin of 9202 votes.

Dar got 28,783 votes while Mir got only 19,581 votes.

In the Sopore constituency, NC candidate Irshad Rasool Kar defeated independent candidate Mursaleen Aajir by a margin of 20,356 votes and former MLA Sopore and Congress candidate Abdul Rashid Dar secured the third slot.

Kar got 26,975 votes, Aajir 6619 votes, and Dar got 5167 votes.

Sopore constituency also witnessed a friendly contest between the NC-Congress alliance partners.

In the Uri constituency, NC candidate Sajad Shafi defeated former minister Taj Mohiuddin, who was contesting as an independent candidate from the constituency, by a margin of 14,469 votes.

While Shafi got 39,713 votes Taj Mohiuddin got 25,244 votes.

In the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency, Irfan Hafiz Lone defeated former minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Basharat Bukhari by a margin of 7751 votes.

Lone, the Congress candidate from the constituency, got 17,002 votes while Bukhari got only 9251 votes.

Following the announcement of the results of the candidates, the supporters set a celebratory mood for the candidates and the party and gathered in large numbers outside the counting hall set up at Indoor Stadium Baramulla.

They marked the occasion with jubilant processions, slogans, and flag hoisting.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, NC candidate from Gulmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah attributed his victory to the hard work of his supporters during the election campaign.

“I joined politics with a mission to develop my constituency. I have promised my people that in the next five years, Gulmarg will be one of the best-developed constituencies,” Shah said.

NC candidate from Pattan, Javid Reyaz Bedar said he emerged victorious in the elections as people realised that it was a fight against the B-team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“My priority will be to develop my constituency and address the issues faced by the youth,” he said.

NC candidate from Baramulla, Javid Hassan Baig said that it was after a gap of 25 years that NC workers were activated in the Baramulla constituency and worked hard for the party candidate.

“I attribute my victory to the supporters and youth of Baramulla who tirelessly worked hard during the election campaign,” he said.

On Muzaffar Hussain Baig being in the fray, Javid Baig said, “I am like his son. He should see his victory in my success.”

NC candidate from Uri constituency, Sajad Shafi said he would pitch for the restoration of the Mohra power project and put in efforts to address the issue of unemployment faced by the youth in his constituency.

“My priority will be to work for the overall development of Uri constituency and put Uri on the tourism map. I will press for the promotion of religious and border tourism in my constituency,” he said.