With just 7% voting, Farooq is Srinagar MP

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Saturday won the Lok Sabha by-poll in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, defeating the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Nazir Khan by a margin of over 10,700 votes. Abdullah polled around 48,554 votes against Khan, who got 37,779 votes.

Polling for the seat was held on April 9 amid large- scale violence that left eight persons dead and several dozen others injured. The constituency had recorded an abysmal 7.13 per cent voter turnout, the lowest ever in its history.

Speaking to reporters after his victory, Abdullah demanded that Governor's rule be imposed in Jammu and Kashmir as the state government had failed to ensure a peaceful election. "I appeal to the Governor and the President of India to dismiss this (J&K) government and impose Governor's rule in the state where the people will get some respite and feel that such a situation will not arise again," he said.

The Election Commission had ordered repolling in 38 polling stations in violence-hit areas on April 13.

Although there were seven other candidates in the fray, it was NOTA that bagged the second runner-up spot with over 930 voters choosing this option. National Conference workers did not celebrate the win of their party president as a mark of respect to the eight youths killed in firing on April 9. Abdullah's win is being seen as a major setback for the ruling PDP. He was earlier elected to the LS in 1980 and 2009.