Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather's defeat ends record 36-year stint in Jammu & Kashmir Assembly

Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather's record run in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly ended on Tuesday when he lost from Charar-e-Sharief while his National Conference colleague Ali Mohammad Sagar equalled his feat of sixth consecutive victories by winning Khanyar seat.

Rather, who represented Charar-e-Sharief constituency for a record 36 years in the Assembly, lost to PDP candidate and former Legislative Council chairman Ghulam Nabi Lone. Rather, who last lost an election in 1972, was defeated by Lone by over 5,000 votes. Rather had won six consecutive assembly elections from Charar-e-Sharief constituency in central Kashmir Budgam district.

It was third time lucky for Lone who unsuccessfully contested against Rather in 2002 and in 2008. While Rather won by 3,755 votes in 2002, he emerged victorious by 6,375 votes in 2008. Born at Badipora village of Chadoora, Rather (59) was first elected to the assembly from the constituency in 1977.

A law graduate, Rather was a practising lawyer from 1971 to 1982 and held important portfolios in the National Conference governments including the post of Speaker. He also served as Finance Minister several times besides holding Agriculture, Rural development, Law and parliamentary affairs portfolios.

Earlier, the constituency was represented by National Conference leader Bakshi Abdul Rashid in 1957 and 1962 and Congress leader Abdul Quyoom in 1967 and 1972. National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar won the Khanyar assembly seat by over 1200 votes, staving off stiff competition from PDP candidate and former trade union leader Khurshid Alam. This is Sagar's sixth consecutive win in the assembly polls, equalling the record held by Rather.