When 34-year-old MBA graduate Javid Dar emerged from the Rafiabad counting centre, he was sure of defeating two former cabinet ministers, Dilawar Mir (PDP) and Gani Vakil (Congress), from North Kashmir’s Rafiabad seat.

Returning officer of Rafiabad Assadullah Khan, however, wasn’t as sure of the NC candidate’s fate. For, 204 migrant votes were still to be counted and Dar was leading by merely 40 votes.

The results were out soon and Dar romped home by a margin of 216 votes. Political minnow Dar, who had parted ways from the PDP to join the NC, had been silently at work in the villages of Rafiabad.

When counting began in the early hours, Dar and Vakil sat in the counting hall, watching the electronic voting machines being unsealed. Mir came later.

Vakil managed a lead initially but was soon behind Dar and Mir once the third round concluded. Thereafter, it was a close fight between Dar and Mir. After the fourth round, Vakil was out of the race.

When counting in Rohama belt, Mir’s native place, began, Dar and his supporters were worried. Rohuma had sent Mir to the Assembly four times since 1977.

But Dar had made inroads into Mir’s native belt, especially in Ladhoo Rafiabad, which became evident when the PDP stalwart began trailing in the last round.

Ghulam Ahmad, chief agent of Mir, however, claimed,“This is our belt and Dar will be defeated.”

But today was Dar’s day. When the counting ended, the NC candidate had secured 12,349 votes and Mir was close with 12,319 votes. “We have won,” shouted Dar’s supporters when officials asked them to wait till the counting of migrant votes.

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