'Time to accept the inevitable': Omar Abdullah concedes defeat to Engineer Rashid in Baramulla seat

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday conceded defeat to Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, in the Lok Sabha constituency of Baramulla.

Engineer Rashid defeated Abdullah by over one lakh votes.

Taking to X, Abdullah said that it was “time to accept the inevitable” and congratulated Engineer Rashid for the victory.

I think 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…

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 4, 2024

“I think 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,” Abdullah wrote.

The win for Engineer Rashid, who has been lodged in Tihar jail for the past five years facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act  (UAPA), came as a surprise as he contested the elections as an independent candidate from the confines of the prison .

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Since he was in jail, his two sons led his campaign, which started just two weeks before the Baramulla constituency voted in the fifth phase on 20 May.

With inputs from agencies