Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Chief Minister Ghulam [Images] Nabi Azad entered the 87-member state legislative assembly winning the byelection from his home constituency Bhaderwah in hilly Doda district with a thumping majority.

Azad who contested the byelection from Bhaderwah was declared elected on Thursday defeating his nearest rival of the Bharatiya Janata Party Dhantar Singh. Azad got 58,515 votes.

Azad's victory was a forgone conclusion as the enthusiasm of the people in his area to choose their own chief minister outweighed every other consideration.

The counting is still in progress for the three north Kashmir byelections and results are expected by Thursday noon.