Omar Abdullah, a key figure in the prominent Abdullah family of Jammu and Kashmir, has secured a significant political victory by winning both the Budgam and Ganderbal Assembly seats, two crucial constituencies in J&K. With this performance, the third-generation politician is positioned to become the next chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, continuing his family’s long-standing political legacy in the region.
This Assembly election, the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, has been a major turning point for Abdullah, whose political future was at stake. Earlier this year, he suffered a major setback with a defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, which was seen as a blow to his political standing. However, the Assembly polls have provided a much-needed opportunity for the National Conference (NC) leader to re-establish himself in the state’s political landscape.
With NC President Farooq Abdullah, his father, stepping back from active leadership, this election was seen as a decisive moment for Omar Abdullah’s political trajectory. For most of the last five years, the 54-year-old former chief minister had resisted participating in the elections, stating that he wouldn’t serve as a member of an Assembly under a Union Territory setup. However, his stance shifted dramatically once the Election Commission announced the election dates for Jammu and Kashmir.
Rather than contesting just one seat, he opted to stand from two constituencies — Ganderbal, a symbolic stronghold for the Abdullah family, and Budgam, a new challenge for him after his Lok Sabha defeat. This strategy paid off, as Abdullah not only secured Budgam by a convincing margin of 18,000 votes but also won Ganderbal, reflecting his renewed appeal among voters.
After the revocation of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, there has been a marked resurgence of support for the National Conference. Many voters, it seems, have rallied behind the NC, viewing it as a representative of the region’s political identity. The NC’s alliance with the Congress further bolstered its standing, helping it emerge as the largest party in the Assembly, with the potential to lead the new government.
Recognizing the impact of this mandate, Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to his supporters in both constituencies, stating that this election was not just about winning seats but about securing the future of Jammu and Kashmir. His father, Farooq Abdullah, has already confirmed that Omar would be the party’s choice for chief minister, reaffirming his role as the face of the NC’s future.
Omar Abdullah has a history of political comebacks. In 2002, he faced a surprising defeat in his family’s stronghold of Ganderbal to a relatively unknown candidate, Qazi Mohammad Afzal. However, he bounced back in 2004, winning a Lok Sabha seat and making a mark with his impassioned speeches in Parliament, particularly during the heated debates on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
