Mehbooba Mufti wins Anantnag bypoll

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has won the Anantnag bypoll by defeating her nearest Congress rival Hilal Shah by over 12,000 votes.

Earlier in the day, the counting of votes was disrupted for a brief while after the Congress workers created ruckus outside the counting hall, saying they found the EVMs unsealed.

Eight candidates, including Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP, Hilal Ahmad Shah of the Congress and Iftikhar Hussain Misgar of the National Conference were in the fray.

The by-election in Anantnag took place following the death of the then chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who represented the constituency in the 87-member legislative house.

Sayeed passed away in New Delhi on 7 January after a brief illness.

Mehbooba assumed office after being sworn in as the Chief Minister of the PDP-BJP coalition government on April 4.

Mehbooba, who is not member of any of the House, is presently an MP from south Kashmir Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency in Parliament.