MehboobaThe Peoples Democratic Party, PDP President and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has won the Anantnag Assembly by-poll. She defeated her nearest rival Hilal Shah of Congress by over 12000 votes.

For the fourth time Mehbooba Mufti was elected to the State Assembly.

She retained the Anantnag assembly constituency for her Peoples Democratic Party.

Mehbooba has been elected to the State Assembly three times in the past 20 years. She won first Assembly elections in 1996 from Anantnag district’s Bijbehara segment as a Congress candidate.

About 34 percent of voters exercised their franchise in Bye-elections of Anantnag Assembly Segment on Thursday .

The seat was left vacant with the demise of former Chief Minister and PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 07.

PM Congratulates Mehbooba

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday congratulated Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on her winning the Anantnag by-election.

“Congratulations to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the phenomenal victory in the Anantnag assembly by-election,” Modi tweeted soon after the results were out.

Rajnath Singh spoke to Mehbooba over the phone and congratulated her.

“Spoke to Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti ji over the phone and congratulated her on her electoral win in Anantnag bypolls,” he tweeted.

BJP leader Ram Madhav, who is credited with the formation of the BJP-PDP government in the state, also congratulated Mehbooba.