National Conference (NC) senior leader Aga Syed Ruhullah won the Srinagar parliamentary constituency seat on Tuesday. Ruhullah’s triumph marks a critical moment in the political narrative of Kashmir, underscoring a clear mandate from the electorate on the contentious issues.
Ruhullah secured a commanding total of 3,56,866 votes, decisively outpacing his nearest competitors. Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra garnered 1,68,450 votes, Muhammad Ashraf Mir received 65,954, and Aamir Ahmad Bhat obtained 15,104.
The results reflect a strong endorsement of Ruhullah’s leadership and his stance on key issues affecting the region.
Expressing his gratitude, Ruhullah took to ‘X’ to thank the constituents of Srinagar, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Shopian, and Budgam for their trust and support. “A big thank you to the people of Srinagar, Pulwama, Gandarbal, Shopian, and Budgam for this mandate and faith in me. I am humbled and I am aware of the responsibility that this mandate brings with it. You have spoken democratically and spoken against the decisions of August 5, 2019,” Ruhullah wrote on X.
Ruhullah’s campaign strongly focused on advocating for the restoration of Article 370 and addressing the grievances that followed the abrogation. “From here on, it is my responsibility to take your voice to the Parliament and the people of the rest of India. Rest assured, I will represent your sentiments and struggle for the return of our dignity and rights with complete sincerity,” Ruhullah continued in his post.
His victory speech highlighted his commitment to bringing the concerns of his constituents to the national stage, emphasising the restoration of rights and dignity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The results from Srinagar add to the dynamic political shifts observed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. This election, the first since the abrogation of Article 370, witnessed an unprecedented voter turnout, signalling a robust engagement from the electorate.
Kashmir, in particular, saw a substantial increase in voter participation compared to previous elections, reflecting a heightened political awareness and desire for change.
Meanwhile: National Conference (NC) candidate Main Altaf Ahmad Larvi registered a comfortable victory from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday. Altaf defeated his nearest rival and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti by a margin of 2,81,749 votes.
Altaf polled 5,21,836 votes while Mufti bagged 2,40,042 votes. Apni Party candidate Zafar Iqbal Manhas secured 1,42,195 votes and finished third. A total of 20 candidates were in the poll fray.
The seat went to polls on May 25 and a three-cornered contest between Altaf, Mufti, and Manhas was expected. Amidst a stringent security arrangement, the counting for the votes started at Government Degree College (GMC), Anantnag.
From the very first round, Altaf seized a lead bagging 36,962 votes while Mehbooba trailed with 16,542 votes. Speaking to reporters after securing victory, Altaf extended his gratitude to the voters.
Talking to reporters, he said that he was indebted to the voters for ensuring his victory from a prestigious seat. “I am particularly thankful to the people of Anantnag and Kulgam who voted in my favour,” he said.
Altaf also extended his gratitude to the National Conference (NC) candidates. Conceding her defeat, Mufti took to X and posted, “Respecting the verdict of the people I thank my PDP workers and leaders for their hard work and support despite all the odds. My deepest gratitude to the people who voted for me. Winning and losing are part of the game and won’t deter us from our path. Congratulations to Mian Sahab for his victory.”
