Srinagar: Post by-poll victory, Farooq Abdullah demands Governor's rule in JK

National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah, after winning the Srinagar by-polls on Saturday, accused the People's Democratic Party's (PDP) of failing to protect the people of the state and demanded Governor's rule to be imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. "This election has been the bloodiest election the state has ever known with the lowest percentage that has ever come in an electoral process. The state government completely failed to give security to the people so that they could cast their vote in peace and in harmony," Abdullah told the media.

He further demanded the next elections be held under the Governor's rule. "As the president of National Conference, I demand and request the Government of India and the President to dismiss the present government right away so that the Governor's rule comes into play and people can have some peace," he added.

He further said the results are showing that the people are in favour of the National Conference. "Let us not forget the number of young people that have lost their lives, second so many people were injured and third which is the most tragic one, that the people were arrested who were not involved in any stone pelting or anything," Abdullah asserted.

He said that such incidents showed that the PDP government completely failed in giving peace and tranquility to the state. After completing 13th round of counting, Abdullah bagged 26, 695 votes while the PDP candidate got 17,901 votes. He won the Lok Sabha by-poll defeating the PDP's Nazir Khan.

A voter turnout of 7.13 percent was recorded in the re-polling that went on in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Thursday. 1.4% voter turnout was recorded polling till 12 noon in Budgam where re-polling took place at 38 voting stations.

There were nine candidates in the fray, but the main contest was between Abdullah and Nazir Ahmad Khan.

Abdullah, 79, had lost the seat to PDP's Tariq Hameed Karra in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The seat fell vacant after Karra resigned from the PDP and the Lok Sabha - he eventually joined the Congress which entered in a pre-poll alliance with the National Conference.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced re-polling on 38 polling stations on April 13. The by-polls of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency were held on April 9 amidst multiple incidences of violence resulting in the killing of seven civilians and injuring many.