Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti Concede Defeat in Lok Sabha Elections

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti conceded defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, as counting indicated significant leads for their opponents. Abdullah congratulated his competitors and party colleagues leading in other constituencies, emphasizing the democratic process and the voters' choice.

In a significant development in the Lok Sabha elections, National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti conceded defeat on Tuesday, even as vote counting was still underway. Both leaders acknowledged the early trends showing considerable leads for their opponents.

According to the Election Commission's data, jailed former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid gained a substantial lead over Abdullah in the Baramulla constituency, surpassing him by more than 1.25 lakh votes. ''I think it's time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir,'' Abdullah remarked in a post on X.

Similarly, Mufti expressed her gratitude towards her supporters, while accepting defeat in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency. ''Respecting the verdict of the people, I thank my PDP workers and leaders for their hard work and support despite all odds,'' Mufti posted on X. She emphasized that the results would not deter her party's mission.

Interestingly, National Conference Gujjar leader Mian Altaf and Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi were ahead by significant margins in their respective constituencies. Abdullah extended heartfelt congratulations to his colleagues, acknowledging their success even as he faced defeat.