"I Think It’s Time To Accept The Inevitable": Omar Abdullah Concedes Defeat

National Conference (NC) leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, conceded defeat in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. The latest Election Commission data indicates that jailed former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid is leading in the constituency with a margin of over 198,924 votes. Omar Abdullah has also admitted the defeat and said in a social media post that "it’s time to accept the inevitable."

"Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir. I don’t believe his victory will hasten his release from prison nor will the people of North Kashmir get the representation they have a right to, but the voters have spoken, and in a democracy, that’s all that matters," wrote Omar Abdullah in a post on X on June 4. As per the EC data as of 4:20 pm, Sheikh Abdul Rashid secured 452,812 votes, and the former CM managed to get only 253,888 votes. The Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference candidate Sajad Lone is currently at the third position. 

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is also trailing in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency. National Conference’s candidate Mian Altaf is leading in this constituency with a margin of over 279,300 votes. In a social media post, the People’s Democratic Party president said that she respects the "verdict of the people".