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Onkar Singh in Srinagar
National Conference chief Omar Abdullah lost to his nearest rival People Democratic Party's Qazi Mohammed Afzal by 3690 votes in Ganderbal.
He left the counting center at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre in a huff when he learnt he was trailing by over 3600 votes.
He refused to talk to the media before jumping into his car and driving away.
Abdullah had arrived at the counting centre around 8.45 am and was kept updated on the trends by intelligence officers.
At the end of the third round he was trailing behind his PDP rival by 749 votes. But by the at the end of round four the margain had narrowed down to merely 240. " I don't know why the media has been talking about trends. There is a buzz in the media circles that Omar Abdullah is losing. I would wait till the last round before talking to the media persons," he told rediff.com as he waited under the shadow of a tree trying to read a book. When one of the media correspondents asked him what he would do in case he lost, he said in that eventuality he would take a ticket and go to London. " Why should I go to Paris. In our family this has been the tradition to go to London," said a bemused Abdullah junior. When he drove into the counting complex he was very sure that National Conference would get atleast 40 odd seats and rest would come by talking to some independent candidates. The moment PDP supporter learnt that they had gained a lead of over 3000 they started raising victory slogans. An embrassed Abdullah was left with no choice but to leave. End.... PTI
ALSO SEE: For Ganderbal residents, Omar is just another Abdullah
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