constituency-profile-srinagar-lok-sabha-constituency

Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is among the five parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. It covers 15 assembly constituencies spanning Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal districts. 

 

These include Hazratbal, Zadibal, Eidgah, Khanyar, Habba Kadal, Amira Kadal, Sonawar, Batmaloo, Chadoora, Budgam, Beerwah, Khan Sahib, Ganderbal, Kangan, and Charari Sharief Assembly constituencies. 

 

The constituency is open to all, with no reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Scheduled Tribes.

 

The major political parties in the constituency are the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP), and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC).

 

Farooq Abdullah, the JKNC politician and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has represented the Srinagar constituency four times: in 1980, 2009, 2017, and 2019. Abdullah won the 2017 by-election called after JKNC's current MP Tariq Hameed Karra resigned from the party.

 

Demographic Profile:

 

Srinagar has a population that is 95% Muslim, with minorities including Sikhs and Hindus making up the remaining 5%. Additionally, it comprises 60% urban and 40% rural voters.

 

According to Election Commission data, the Srinagar seat had a total of 12,94,671 eligible voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with 6,67,593 male voters, 6,27,052 female voters, and 26 voters identified as the third gender.

 

There were also 466 postal ballots and 744 service voters (729 males and 15 females).

 

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the constituency had 12,07,230 eligible voters, with 6,31,520 male voters, 5,75,702 female voters, and eight voters identifying as 'others'. There were 37 postal votes and 275 service voters (217 males and 58 females).

 

Election Results:

 

In the 2019 elections, Farooq Abdullah secured the seat with 70,050 votes, obtaining a vote share of 57.13%. In the 2014 elections, Tariq Hameed Karra of the JKPDP won the seat with a vote share of 50.58%.

 

Historical Election Data:

 

The NC has dominated the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency historically, with Farooq Abdullah winning the seat multiple times. However, Congress managed to win once in 1996, and independent Shamim Ahmed Shamim won in 1971.

 

Voter Turnout:

 

The voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was 14.43%, with 1,86,832 legitimate votes cast. In 2014, the turnout was 25.86%, with 3,12,212 valid votes cast.

 

Number of Polling Stations:

 

The 2019 Lok Sabha Elections included 1,716 polling stations.

 

Voting in the Srinagar constituency for both elections took place in April, with results announced in May.