Modi, Rajnath congratulate Mehbooba over Anantnag win

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.

"Congrats to Mehbooba Mufti for winning Anantnag seat with 10K margin," he tweeted.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti, who became Chief Minister on April 4, won the by-election comfortably, defeating her nearest Congress rival by over 12,000 votes.

She polled 17,700 votes while Congress' Hilal Ahmad Shah managed only 5,600 votes out of the nearly 28,500 votes polled on Wednesday amid a boycott called by separatist politicians and militants.

--IANS

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