Abdullah, a four-time chief minister and a former Union minister for new and renewable energy, defeated his nearest rival and PDP candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan by over 10,000 votes.
Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) suffered a major setback after National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah redeemed his lost glory on Saturday by winning the parliamentary election from Srinagar.
Abdullah, a four-time chief minister and a former Union minister for new and renewable energy, defeated his nearest rival and PDP candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan by over 10,000 votes.
The 79-year-old leader had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a political minnow and former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra from Srinagar in the 2014 polls.
The seat fell vacant after Karra quit in protest against the civilian killings during the summer unrest of 2016 and joined the Congress but did not seek re-election. He canvassed for Abdullah this time.
The constituency witnessed an abysmally low turnout in the last 27 years of militancy, with only 7 per cent people exercising their franchise.
Massive violence marred the elections last Sunday, prompting security personnel to open fire, leaving eight people dead. More than 100 securitymen were injured on Sunday. Re-poll in 38 polling booths on Thursday further dipped the turnout, with only 2 per cent casting ballots.
"How does it matter (about 93 per cent people boycotting)? We have seen low turnout before also. Democracy has been there. What do you tell people who voted with all the pressure on them?" Farooq said after winning the polls.
The former chief minister, however, said he has never seen such a bloody election in his life. "The government failed to provide a conducive atmosphere for the election. The situation was such that people could not even venture out of homes. Eight youths were killed and so many others were hit by bullets. Many are in jails," said Abdullah.
He appealed to Governor NN Vohra and President Pranab Mukherjee to dismiss the Mehbooba government and impose governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Elections in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency should be held under governor's rule. I will be calling a meeting of all stakeholders and try to evolve some consensus which would be put before the Centre," he said.
PDP candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan, however, accused the NC of enforcing tactical boycott in their strongholds, using the Hurriyat's call as cover. "They were instrumental in stone-pelting in those areas where we are strong. Why was it that wherever the NC was strong voting took place without any hassle? I will write to the Election Commission and ask the government to probe the NC's role," he said.
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