Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah leaves a press conference at his residence in Kabul on May 14, 2014.
Kabul:
The Afghan Presidential election, as expected, goes in to a run-off with the top contender Dr Abdullah Abdullah to take on the second placed candidate Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. 40 days after voting, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced today that no one had got the required 50 per cent plus one vote to win the first round outright. Dr Abdullah has won 45 per cent of the vote with Dr Ghani at 31.6 per cent. Dr Abdullah and Dr Ghani have both complained about oversights in the electoral process but have accepted the results. According the IEC, about 58 per cent of the electorate voted (Over 7 million valid votes). A creditable 36 per cent of those with valid votes were women, he added.
The date penciled in for the run-off between the top two is June 14th. That is subject to electoral material reaching remote areas in Afghanistan. The lengthy poll process means the final results for the new President will be announced only on July 22nd.
Four days ago, the third placed candidate former Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul had endorsed Dr Abdullah giving him a big boost. His huge majority in Pashtun dominated Kandahar could help Dr Abdullah in the second round.
Former Finance Minister and ex-World Bank economist, Dr Ashraf Ghani is still actively seeking support from the other candidates and is expected to get the backing of an Islamist leader and ex-warlord, Professor Abdo Rabe Rasool Sayyaf, who came a distant fourth in the first round. Outgoing President Hamid Karzai's brothers Qayoom and Mehmud are also expected to support the technocrat known for his administrative acumen and quick temper.
Both Dr Abdullah and Dr Ghani have told NDTV that they will welcome an advisory role from President Karzai. He himself has been careful not to be seen publically as endorsing any contestant, though, it is thought that Mr Rassoul was his preferred candidate. President Karzai told NDTV in December 2013 that he was willing to advise the next president if he was asked to.
President Karzai has served as Head of State for 13 years and the two terms that the constitution allows him to.
The date penciled in for the run-off between the top two is June 14th. That is subject to electoral material reaching remote areas in Afghanistan. The lengthy poll process means the final results for the new President will be announced only on July 22nd.
Four days ago, the third placed candidate former Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul had endorsed Dr Abdullah giving him a big boost. His huge majority in Pashtun dominated Kandahar could help Dr Abdullah in the second round.
Former Finance Minister and ex-World Bank economist, Dr Ashraf Ghani is still actively seeking support from the other candidates and is expected to get the backing of an Islamist leader and ex-warlord, Professor Abdo Rabe Rasool Sayyaf, who came a distant fourth in the first round. Outgoing President Hamid Karzai's brothers Qayoom and Mehmud are also expected to support the technocrat known for his administrative acumen and quick temper.
Both Dr Abdullah and Dr Ghani have told NDTV that they will welcome an advisory role from President Karzai. He himself has been careful not to be seen publically as endorsing any contestant, though, it is thought that Mr Rassoul was his preferred candidate. President Karzai told NDTV in December 2013 that he was willing to advise the next president if he was asked to.
President Karzai has served as Head of State for 13 years and the two terms that the constitution allows him to.
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