Shiite leader Imran Ansari lashes out at his supporters after failed elections

Srinagar: A video showing a Kashmiri Shia leader venting his anger at his supporters has gone viral on social media following his party’s crushing defeat in the recently concluded Indian Lok Sabha elections.

A 19-second video of Shiite leader and Secretary-General of the People’s Conference Imran Reza Ansari has gone viral on social media, eliciting harsh comments.

The People’s Conference is led by Sajjad Gani Lone, a separatist turned mainstream politician.

Lone contested the election from Baramulla Assembly constituency in north Kashmir but his party suffered a major defeat in the elections.

Independent candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid (known as Engineer Rashid), who is in prison on terrorism financing charges, won the seat. Omar Abdullah, the deputy speaker of the National Conference, came second, and Lone came a distant third.

In the video, Ansari is seen speaking angrily to his supporters, visibly upset over the election fiasco.

“I swear on my father’s grave that I want to tear my clothes off today. I held a high position and you have let me die,” an angry Ansari told his supporters in Kashmiri.

Ansari also angrily threw a cup of tea that was offered to him, before yelling at an elderly supporter.

Of the 18 Lok Sabha seats, the People’s Conference could only maintain its lead in one constituency – Handwara.

The party also trailed in Ansari’s own constituency, Patan, where the Congress candidate was leading.