Opposition National Conference president and three-time Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today won the by-poll to the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat, which witnessed only 7.13 per cent voter turnout.
He defeated his PDP rival Nazir Ahmad Khan from here by 10,557 votes. Abdullah lost in 2014 to the then PDP candidate Tariq Karra, who is now with the Congress.
Farooq polled 47,926 votes while Khan polled 37,369 votes. NOTA (none of the above) were 714, election officials said. A total of 89,865 votes were cast for the by-poll.
The Srinagar seat fell vacant after Karra resigned from the PDP.
Immediately after the declaration of result, Farooq demanded imposition of Governor's rule in the border state which is currently government by PDP-BJP alliance.
“Thank people who supported. This was the bloodiest election ever. Results show that people are in favour of NC. Request Government of India and President to dismiss present govt right away. Governor’s rule be imposed and elections be conducted under Governor’s rule,” he said.
A total of nine candidates were in the fray for the by-poll seat.
