Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Nov 15: Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker and senior National Conference (NC) leader Abdul Rahim Rather on Saturday said the party’s defeat in the Budgam by-election should not be viewed in isolation, but in a broader political context. He asserted that the votes secured by the winning PDP candidate were not entirely the party’s own.
Speaking to reporters, Rather, said the outcome was “unfortunate” and called for a thorough investigation into alleged malpractices. “This should be investigated thoroughly, and legal action must be taken against whoever is involved,” he said.
Commenting on the NC’s loss in Budgam for the first time, Rather said elections naturally involve victories and defeats. “We must accept the people’s verdict. Winning and losing are part of democracy,” he said.
The Speaker, who clarified that he is no longer active in politics, analysed the vote pattern of the by-election. “In 2024, PDP secured 17,500 votes. At that time, neither Maulvi Sahib nor Maulvi Iftikhar Sahib’s supporters were with them. Today, all those votes have come together, reaching around 21,000. They have only gained 3,500 votes. These are not PDP votes; these belong to their candidates and their families,” he said.
On the alleged harassment of doctors during the poll process, the senior NC leader said the matter should be left to legal authorities. “Courts should investigate and determine who was involved and who was not. No innocent person should be harassed,” he said.
When asked whether NC leaders would be able to address public grievances, he said the turnout at public meetings demonstrated the expectations people have from their representatives.
