SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced his support for Kashmiri singer Qazi Touqeer, a contestant on Bigg Boss 20, saying he intends to vote for him in the ongoing reality show.
Omar made the remarks during a podcast with journalist and television anchor Shubhankar Mishra, who asked whether the Chief Minister was following the programme because of the participation of a Kashmiri contestant.
Omar immediately named Qazi, indicating that he was aware of his performance and the developments inside the house. He also recalled the singer’s earlier success in a television singing competition.
During the conversation, Mishra reminded him that Qazi had won Sony TV’s Fame Gurukul in 2005, a season in which singer Arijit Singh had also participated. Omar said he had read about Qazi’s achievements in newspapers.
When Mishra discussed the singer’s popularity and career, Omar said he would cast his vote in support of him.
Qazi, who hails from Srinagar’s Khanyar locality, rose to national prominence after winning Fame Gurukul alongside Ruprekha Banerjee in 2005. His participation in Bigg Boss 20 has renewed public interest in his career, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
His return to national television has also attracted attention among his supporters in the Valley. His musical career includes the album Yeh Pal, released through Sony BMG following his reality show victory, independent releases and covers in Kashmiri, Hindi and Urdu. He also appeared in the 2015 Bollywood film Phantom.
Qazi’s musical journey began with the school-stage programme Saaz Aur Awaaz, where his talent reportedly caught the attention of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.
Hosted by Salman Khan, Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6, 2026. The contestants include Qazi Touqeer, Kanika Mann, Mahhi Vij, Arishfa Khan, Aasif Khan, Amrapali Dubey, Kushal Tanwar, popularly known as Gullu, and gamer Tanmay Singh, known as ScoutOP.
Meanwhile, voting trends reported for the ongoing season have placed Love Gill at the top of the public support rankings, followed by Bhojpuri actress Amrapali Dubey. Qazi Touqeer, Aman Gandhi and Isha Rikhi have featured among contestants facing weaker voting support in recent online assessments.
These rankings are based on reported voting trends and should not be treated as official results announced by the show’s makers.
