Early Times Report
Jammu, May 10: The Srinagar Parliamentary seat is currently embroiled in a three-way electoral battle featuring the National Conference (NC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the J&K Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari.
Traditionally, the NC and PDP have been arch-rivals in this prestigious Lok Sabha constituency, but the entry of the Apni Party has added a new dimension, making the contest more intriguing.
The prominent contenders for this seat include Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from the NC, Waheed ur Rehman Para from the PDP, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir from the J&K Apni Party. Despite the presence of two dozen candidates, the real showdown appears to be among these three.
With just three days remaining until polling day, the campaign trail is ablaze with fervent canvassing, promising a fiercely competitive electoral showdown to determine the next Lok Sabha representative. A staggering 17 lakh voters will cast their ballots, spanning across four districts: Srinagar, Ganderbal, Pulwama, and parts of Budgam.
Ganderbal district, comprising the Kangan and Ganderbal assembly segments, accounts for a significant portion of the electorate. In Kangan, there's a diverse demographic, including over 39,000 males, 38,000 females, and a substantial number of senior citizens. Similarly, Ganderbal boasts over 63,000 male and 63,000 female voters, along with a sizable senior citizen population.
Srinagar, with its eight assembly segments, including Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, and Central Shalteng, presents a dense electoral landscape. These segments collectively house nearly 750,000 voters, with Hazratbal alone accounting for over 100,000 voters.
The neighboring districts of Khan Sahib, Char-i-Sharif, Chadoora, Zainpora, and Shopian also contribute significantly to the constituency's voter base, adding to the complexity of the electoral dynamics.
Historically, the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency has been a bastion of the National Conference, with the party clinching victory in 10 out of 13 elections. Notably, the Abdullah family has wielded considerable influence over the seat, with Dr. Farooq Abdullah winning it multiple times. However, the constituency saw a brief stint under the Indian National Congress in 1996. Over the years, it has witnessed a mix of political affiliations, adding layers to its electoral history.
The prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is dominated by the National Conference as the party has won 10 out of the 13 Lok Sabha elections on this seat. The seat was also represented by family members of Abdullahs.
In 1977 this seat was won by Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah, mother of Dr. Farooq Abdullah. In the 1980 general election, Dr. Farooq Abdullah won this seat as NC candidate. He won this seat four times. The only national party to ever win the Lok Sabha elections in Srinagar is Congress, which emerged victorious in the 1996 elections.
In 1967 Bakshi Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad won this seat as an NC candidate.
In 1971 S. A. Shamim won this seat as an Independent candidate.
Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah won this seat as an NC candidate in the year 1977.
In 1980 Dr. Farooq Abdullah won this seat as a candidate of the NC.
In the 1983 by-election, this seat was won by Abdul Rashid Kabuli as the NC candidate.
Abdul Rashid Kabuli again won this seat as the NC candidate in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections.
Mohammad Shafi Bhat of the National Conference won this seat in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections.
1996 Ghulam Mohammad Mir Magami of the Indian National Congress won this seat.
In three successive elections of 1998, 1999, and 2004, this seat was won by Omar Abdullah as a National Conference candidate.
In 2009, Dr Farooq Abdullah won this seat as a National Conference candidate.
Tariq Hameed Karra of the PDP won this seat in the year 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
In 2017 by-elections, Dr Farooq Abdullah won this seat as a candidate of the National Conference.
In the 2019 general elections, it was again Dr. Farooq Abdullah who emerged victorious in this seat. |
