HEADLINES POLL ARCHIVES FEEDBACK SEARCH REDIFF NEWSLINKS US EDITION NEWS DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ARCHIVES
From his recent statements, it was perceptible that National Conference president Omar Abdullah did not expect the assembly election to be a cakewalk for the ruling party.
However, even in his wildest dreams, Omar may not have expected to lose from the family pocket borough of Ganderbal in Srinagar district.
On Thursday morning, Omar made his way to the heavily-guarded counting centre at the picturesque Hotel Centaur located on the bank of the world famous Dal Lake.
With counting going on inside, he parked himself under a willow tree and was treated to some hot tea while he waited to find out the fate of his party.
Within minutes, some party supporters came out running from inside.
"What is the news from inside?" Omar asked one of them who whispered something in his ear.
"It is only the fourth round. We will win Ganderbal and other seats too," Omar said aloud.
"We will get at least 45 seats and it is my party which will form the next government. I have no doubt about it," he told rediff.com confidently.
However, his confidence began making way for anxiety as news started trickling out that the NC was trailing in most of the constituencies.
Finally, when at the end of the fifth and sixth rounds, he continued to trail his Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party opponent, he decided to head for his residence in Gupkar locality.
As the counting progressed, the few dozen NC supporters who continued their vigil at Hotel Centaur began to panic till finally they heard what they had never ever imagined possible - Omar Abdullah had lost from Ganderbal.
In no time, NC supporters began deserting the hotel.
But the vacuum was soon replaced by jubilant supporters of PDP candidate Qazi Afzal who appeared from inside carrying the giant killer on their shoulders. Their joy seemed to know no bounds with one excited supporter telling Qazi, "We are proud of you. You have finally uprooted the huge Chinar tree (referring to the Abdullahs)."
Qazi's victory set the trend for the day with NC candidates paying the price for the misrule of the last five years. Eleven ministers lost the polls, apart from the speaker and his deputy. In the final tally, the NC managed to win only 28 seats.
In the previous assembly, the National Conference had 57 seats, the BJP 8, the Congress 8, Janata Dal 5, BSP 4, CPM 1 and Others 4.
NC activists were stunned by the results. "I don't know what happened," said senior leader Mohammad Ashraf. "We should have resigned the moment the Centre rejected the autonomy resolution that was passed by the state assembly in July 2000," was all he could say.
Another NC leader wishing anonymity said that the unpopularity of the Special Operations Group of the state police, which has been accused of harassing innocents, may have contributed "its bit in our defeat".
But the people, some of who were happy to see the back of the NC, were not as reticent about the reasons for the party's rout.
"They unleashed the might of the state on innocents. There was no accountability, corruption was rampant. Jobs were sold to persons who could afford to pay," said Mehraj-ud-din, a shopkeeper in Lal Chowk.
But Qazi Mohammad Afzal hit the nail on the head when he said, "The people of Ganderbal were completely alienated from the NC. After winning the seat, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah forgot his constituency and never bothered to visit the area. People only saw him on television."
As if the results were not enough, what was till yesterday its 'most trusted muscle' - the state police - also turned against NC activists when there was some tension over postal ballots of migrant Kashmir Pandits during counting for Habbakadal constituency.
NC candidate Shameema Firdaus wanted them cancelled. When the returning officer (RO) turned down the demand, State Works Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar slapped him while Firdaus shouted at a top police official present in the premises.
Before the situation could turn ugly, cops swung into action and resorted to a baton charge.
The Election Commission has asked the state government to take action against Sagar and Firdaus while the state police has registered an FIR.
Top leaders of the Congress and the PDP are meeting in Srinagar on Friday to discuss the process of government formation with the help of independents and like-minded parties.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
