KTR's shoutout to Omar Abdullah on Jammu and Kashmir comeback, he responds

Political leaders from across party lines congratulated National Conference leader Omar Abdullah after his party won a majority in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

In Short

• KTR congratulates Omar Abdullah after win in J&K assembly polls
• National Conference wins 42 seats, Congress secures 6 seats
• Omar Abdullah wins in Ganderbal and Budgam

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah got a shoutout from BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) after his party won a majority in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

"Congratulations @OmarAbdullah. What a terrific comeback," KTR posted on his official X handle. "Like they say, you made sure your comeback was better than the setback. Best wishes in governing the most beautiful state of India (in anticipation that statehood will be restored soonest)."

KTR was referring to the 2014 Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, where the NC was reduced to 15 seats. This time, in the first elections since the abrogation of Article 370, the NC secured 42 of the 90 seats. Its alliance partner, the Congress, won six seats.

Omar Abdullah secured victories in both Ganderbal and Budgam constituencies. The results were a vindication for his party, the Valley's oldest, and a personal triumph after his loss to then-jailed separatist Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Thank you very much KTR Sb. Setbacks are only opportunities to learn & improve but in this case the credit is all to the voters of J&K," Abdullah responded on X, expressing gratitude to the electorate for their faith in the democratic process.

KTR wasn’t the only leader to congratulate Abdullah. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also lauded the NC-Congress alliance, calling their victory "stupendous."

"This is more than just a win for #INDIA and democracy—it’s a mandate to fulfil the aspirations of restoring the dignity and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir," Stalin wrote, tagging Abdullah in the post.

In his response, Abdullah thanked Stalin for his support. He extended an invitation to both KTR and Stalin to visit Jammu and Kashmir soon.

The NC leader, tipped to be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. In addition to the 48 seats secured by the alliance, four independent MLAs have extended their support to the NC.

"After receiving the letter from Congress, we will go to the Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form the government," Abdullah said.

This election marked the first held in Jammu and Kashmir in a decade, and the first since its reorganisation as a Union Territory.