Srinagar: The Srinagar constituency, which has around 13.73 lakh eligible voters, has remained a stronghold of NC since 1975 when it started participating in the electoral politics following Indira-Sheikh accord.
However, in 1996 the seat was won by Congress candidate Ghulam Mohammad Mir (Magami) when NC did not put up any candidate as majority NC leaders, including Dr Abdullah and Omar Abdullah were living outside the valley due to militancy.
Before 1967, members to Lok Sabha were being nominated from Jammu and Kashmir.
Former prime minister of the state Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was the first to represent the Srinagar constituency in 1967.
However, in 1971 Shamim Ahmad Shamim, an independent candidate supported by “Mahaz Raishumari Front” headed by Sheikh Mohammad
Abdullah won from the constituency.
Later after Indira-Sheikh accord in 1975, Begum Akbar Jehan, mother of Dr Abdullah represented the seat in 1977 as NC nominee.
Abdul Rashid Kabli of NC represented the seat in 1984 and Mohammad Shafi Bhat (NC) in 1989.
Congress candidate Ghlam Mohammad Mir won in 1996. Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah represented the constituency in 1998, 1999 and 2004.
In 2009, Dr Abdullah won from the constituency as NC nominee and become minister in the UPA government.
However, Dr Abdullah lost to Mr Karra of PDP in 2014 by a margin of about 50,000 votes.
Mr Karra who was opposed to alliance with BJP finally resigned from PDP and Lok Sabha to join Congress with the result the seat became vacant.
Even after the defeat, Dr Abdullah announced that he will contest elections as NC candidate till he is alive.
All 1,559 polling booths spread in three districts in Srinagar parliamentary seat have been categorized as hypersensitive or sensitive.
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