Lok Sabha elections 2024: Meet Engineer Rashid who defeated Omar Abdullah from Tihar jail

NEW DELHI: Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, an independent candidate currently lodged in Tihar jail, has emerged victorious in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, defeating former chief minister Omar Abdullah. Rashid, who is lodged in Tihar jail, at 4,52,812 votes won by almost over 2 lakh votes. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah got 2,53,888 seats.Conceding defeat, Abdullah in a social media post said it was "time to accept the inevitable" as the voters have spoken. "Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North Kashmir. I don’t believe his victory will hasten his release from prison nor will the people of North Kashmir get the representation they have a right to, but the voters have spoken and in a democracy that’s all that matters," he tweeted.Rashid is the chairman of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) and has a history of controversial statements and actions. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019 for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case. Despite his imprisonment, Rashid managed to secure a significant number of votes, highlighting his popularity among the constituents of Baramulla. He has been an MLA two times and was one of 22 candidates contesting from Baramulla.His assets were valued at Rs 1.5 crore compared to Rs 80 lakh in 2019. It includes a 41,072 sq ft non-agriculture land in his home town Langate and a house in Srinagar worth Rs 90 lakh. Rashid has declared Rs 11.3 lakh home loan and Rs 3.1 lakh Kissan Credit Card loan as liabilities. The former MLA has only Rs 1,424 in his sole bank account, his financial disclosures show. In the affidavit, he cited pension as his source of income and his spouse works as a "housemaid".(With agency inputs)