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December 29, 2008
 Omar Abdullah's [Images] nine-year old son Zahir, who accompanied his father on the victory lap in Ganderbal, instantly hit it off with the people, enjoying a new found celebrity status.
Zahir, whose picture was flashed across major newspapers on Monday, struck a chord when he spontaneoussly started accepting greetings from the people who lined up the streets here to welcome his father and their new representative on Sunday. As the father-son duo emerged from the local election office in Ganderbal, Omar climbed onto their jeep amid loud cheers from the crowd. Zahir too hopped onto to the bonnet and handed over a microphone to his father but only after testing it.
People clapped as the young boy majestically surveyed the huge gathering. Dressed in a red jacket and grey denims, an excited Zahir waved at the crowd, shook hands with people as he sat atop the vehicle which moved at a snail's pace in the bylanes of this hilly township.
While many elderly women braved the biting cold to be at the scene to bless him, young men and children danced to drum beats and raised slogans in support of Omar. Omar thanked the people for electing him to serve them while Zahir stood close to his father relishing every moment of the rousing reception his father was getting.
Image: Omar Abdullah with son Zahir, during the victory procession in Ganderbal. Photograph: Reuters/ Danish Ismail
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