One of the high-profile constituencies of the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) legislative Assembly, Srinagar has significant importance for the overall elections of the UT.
Where the upcoming Assembly polls are concerned, Srinagar has eight assembly segments, including seat number 18, Hazratbal, 19- Zadibal, 20- Eidgah, 21-Khanyar, 22-Habba Kadal, 23-Amira Kadal, 24-Sonawar, 25-Batamaloo.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has dominated Srinagar, considered the hub of J&K politics, for decades.
The seat has historic significance since it was first claimed by Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq of the Indian National Congress in 1965, who served as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir till the position was changed to that of chief minister in 1965, when the J&K Constitution was amended (Sixth Constitution of J&K Amendment Act, 1965) by the then Congress government.
Sadiq remained the CM till his death in 1971.
As far as records are concerned, NC has dominated the Srinagar seat by winning it seven times since 1972. JKNC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah won the seat in 1972 and also retained the seat in 1977.
Dr Farooq Abdullah managed to win the seat twice like his father in the 1983 and the 1987 controversial elections that were allegedly rigged.
Mohammad Shafi Bhat of the NC won the seat twice in 1996, and 2002. Similarly, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat (NC) also won the seat in 2008.
However, in the 2014 assembly elections, Mohammad Ashraf Mir of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) defeated NC’s Omar Abdullah.
Results thrown up from Srinagar pretty much determine the mood of the entire Valley.
As per ECI data on March 2024, the constituency has a total electoral base of 7,48,863, of which 3,75,622 are men 3,73,218 are women and 23 are third gender voters.
Additionally, 1,683 are specially-abled voters and approximately 9,622 are senior citizens. The constituency has eight segments, with 929 polling stations, of which 882 are urban and 47 are rural.
The J&K elections are scheduled to be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1.
In Srinagar, polling will be held in phase 2 on September 25. The results for the Srinagar Assembly seat will be announced on October 8 instead of October 4.
For this poll the Srinagar Assembly constituency will have a triangular between the three major parties NC, PDP, and Apni Party.
As per the ECI data, approximately 88 lakh voters will cast their votes in the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
This will be the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after 2014, and also the first as UT after the abrogation of Article 370.
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