Omar Abdullah’s Morning Run and Election Victory

Omar Abdullah Breaks Morning Run Jinx: Secrets Behind Election Victory

On Tuesday morning, Omar Abdullah went out for a run while his party awaited the verdict from the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview with India Today TV, Omar candidly shared how he almost skipped his morning routine due to what he humorously termed a “jinx.”

The National Conference secured a decisive victory in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, surpassing even Omar Abdullah’s expectations. Following a Lok Sabha defeat, Omar had his doubts about the Assembly polls. He kicked off counting day with a morning run, breaking his “jinx” and ultimately winning the Assembly election.

“Last time I ran on counting day, I lost. I was in two minds about whether to do it again. I told myself, if I go for a run today and lose, I will never run again; but if I don’t run, I need to break this jinx. So, I went for a run and won, and now I will just keep running when I have to,” Omar Abdullah said.

The National Conference, led by Omar’s father, Farooq Abdullah, won 42 out of 90 seats, establishing itself as the dominant force in the region. Congress, an ally, added six seats, while the BJP secured 29 and Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP managed only three.

Omar Abdullah admitted that the scale of his party’s success took him by surprise. “I didn’t expect us to come back with this many seats,” he said. “It’s a humbling verdict that reminds us of how much work we still have to do in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Reflecting on the division of votes between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu, Omar emphasized the need for unity. “The incoming government will have to ensure that it is a government for all – for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, not just the alliance that won.”

He also expressed hope for the restoration of statehood. Omar Abdullah stated, “We have had delimitation, elections, and now statehood must follow. We expect the incoming government to remind the Centre of this commitment.”

Omar further reflected on his Lok Sabha loss to Engineer Rashid. “It wasn’t easy; it was difficult. I had people around me who cared about me, who rallied around me, who lifted my spirits. There was a lot of self-doubt and turmoil… but I got back up and moved forward, and thankfully, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given us a mandate. Now it is our responsibility to respect that mandate and live up to it,” Omar said.

As the National Conference prepares to form the next government, Omar Abdullah remains focused on building a productive relationship with the Centre. “Jammu and Kashmir has unique challenges, and we don’t need an antagonistic relationship with the Union government,” Omar Abdullah concluded.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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