When Omar Abdullah took on the mantle of the NC from his father in 2002, he contested the assembly polls from Ganderbal but was defeated by the PDP's Qazi Mohammad Afzal. He, however, wrested the seat from Afzal in the 2008 polls and went on to become the youngest chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

At a workers' meeting in Ganderbal, Abdullah made a heartfelt plea, saying, “My honour lies in your hands,” as he held his cap in his palms.

Union Minister and BJP president JP Nadda emphasized the importance of the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting their significance for national stability. He praised PM Modi's administration for transforming India's political landscape,

The constituency has been represented by the three generations of the Abdullahs comprising founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah