Srinagar: The first separatist leader Sajjad Lone, who fought parliamentary polls on a plank to raise the Kashmir issue in the Lok Sabha, not only failed in his endeavour but also lost his deposit.
The 42-year-old Lone polled 65,403 out of 4.41 lakh votes cast in the Baramulla parliamentary seat which went to elections in the fifth and final phase on May 13.
According to rules, a candidate has to poll at least one-sixth of the total votes polled to save the deposit.
Efforts to reach Lone, who heads faction-ridden People's Conference, could not fructify.
The future plans of 41-year-old Lone, son of former separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone who was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen militants, were not immediately known. He had earlier said that "even if I lose, I will be representing the number of votes I polled and this increases my responsibility to work more and more for the people".
Another keenly watched candidate was Khaleeda Shah, estranged sister of National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, who also lost her deposit as she could manage only 2,885 votes in the Srinagar parliamentary seat.