INDEPENDENTS' DAY

The Lok Sabha results in Baramulla and Ladakh reflect a churning among voters

- TARIQ BHAT

A unique campaign unfolded in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in Baramulla, where independent candidate Abdul Rashid Sheikh aka Engineer Rashid eventually trounced National Conference’s Omar Abdullah and Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone. Rashid, leader of the Awami Ittehad Party, ran his election bid from Tihar Jail. In his absence, his sons Abrar and Asrar campaigned for him.

The brothers, both in their 20s, led crowds with impassioned slogans. Each rally began with Abrar’s call: “Tihar ka badla (the revenge for Tihar is),” to which the crowd responded, “Vote se (by vote).” Abrar would continue the slogan with “Zulm (injustice) ka badla” and “Jail ka badla”, each of which would be met with the roaring response of “vote se”.