Rameez Makhdoomi
Prestigious Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency goes to polls on April 30 and the nomination papers of 15 out of 16 candidates in Srinagar Parliamentary constituency were found correct after these papers were put to scrutiny by the concerned returning officer here on Thursday.
The total number of voters in Srinagar constituency is 1,171,772. Out of 1,546 polling stations being established for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, 1,021 have been categorized as hyper-sensitive and 470 as sensitive, while 55 polling stations are categorized as normal. This is based on security reasons,” Shah told the media persons here. “Segment wise break-up of polling stations is, 804 in Srinagar district, 540 in Budgam and 202 in Ganderbal district.”
History of Srinagar Lok Sabha Seat
1967: Ghulam Mohamad Bakshi, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1971: Shamim Ahmad Shamim, Independent
1977: Farooq Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1980: Abdul Rashid Kabuli, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1984: Abdul Rashid Kabuli, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1989: Mohammad Shafi Bhat, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1996: Ghulam Mohammad Mir Magami, Indian National Congress
1998: Omar Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1999: Omar Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
2004: Omar Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
2009: Farooq Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Assembly segments
Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:
1. Kangan (assembly constituency no. 16)
2. Gandarbal (assembly constituency no. 17)
3. Hazratbal (assembly constituency no. 18)
4. Zadibal (assembly constituency no. 19)
5. Idgah (assembly constituency no. 20)
6. Khanyar (assembly constituency no. 21)
7. Habbakadal (assembly constituency no. 22)
8. Amirakadal (assembly constituency no. 23)
9. Sonawar (assembly constituency no. 24)
10. Batmaloo (assembly constituency no. 25)
11. Chadoora (assembly constituency no. 26)
12. Badgam (assembly constituency no. 27)
13. Beerwah (assembly constituency no. 28)
14. Khansahib (assembly constituency no. 29)
15. Chrari-Sharif (assembly constituency no. 30)
CANDIDATES IN FRAY
Dr. Farooq Abdullah
Farooq Abdullah, born 21 October 1937 in Soura, Jammu & Kashmir, India, is the son of Sheikh Abdullah. He is a doctor of medicine and has served as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on several occasions since 1982. Abdullah was a novice in the political arena of Jammu and Kashmir when he was appointed president of the National Conference in August 1981. His main qualification was that he was the son and heir of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Sheikh Abdullah. After his father’s death in 1982, Farooq Abdullah became the Chief Minister of the state. In 1984, the Abdullah government was dismissed by the Governor and replaced with a pro-Congress government under Ghulam Mohammad Shah, who also happened to be his brother in law. In 1986, that government was dismissed and a new National Conference–Congress government was sworn in with Abdullah as the Chief Minister. A new election was held in 1987 and the National Conference–Congress alliance won the election amid allegations of fraud. This period saw a rise in militancy in the state, with the return of trained militants from Pakistan and incidents that included the kidnapping of the daughter of the Union Home Minister. Subsequently, the Abdullah government was dismissed once again and the state was brought under President’s rule. In 1996, Abdullah was once again sworn in as Chief Minister of the state, his fifth time.
In 2002 Abdullah was elected to Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir for his first six year term. He was subsequently re-elected in 2009. Abdullah joined the United Progressive Alliance government as a Cabinet Minister.
As of August 2013 Abdullah is the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. He has also stated that he was making moves towards Delhi and wants to become the Foreign Minister of India and ultimately, the President of India. The dream of becoming President seems difficult to be realized.
Farooq Abdullah has the strong chances to win the elections to Srinagar Parliamentary Seat as many of the constituencies falling under this Lok Sabha Seat are either National Conference bastions or are traditional boycott zones. Many voices on ground believe that boycott has traditionally favored National Conference.
Advantages
Farooq Abdullah has a enigmatic and crowd pulling personality
Most of the Assembly Constituencies in the Srinagar Lok Sabha Seat are held by NC.
Disadvantages
Anger towards current National Conference led coalition Government could go against Dr.Farooq Abdullah
A higher voter percentage could harm prospects of NC as it would entail a vote for change especially in a traditional boycott zone like Srinagar
Massive human rights abuses in NC Regime.
Tariq Hamid Karra
Former Finance Minister and Former MLA Batmaloo Tariq Hamid Karra is considered among the prominent faces of opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He is a seasoned politician and a close contest is expected between Farooq Abdullah and him for the electoral battle of Srinagar Constituency. He is known for his soft spoken nature.
Tariq Hamid Karra has been a noted Advocate as well.
He has been the most prominent face of PDP ever since the party was formed.
Interestingly enough, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tariq Hamid Karra is the richest candidate from Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir.
Karra, who filed his nomination papers on Wednesday, has immovable assets worth Rs 98 crore and moveable assets worth Rs 13,29,110. He has Rs 50,000 in cash and Rs 2,03,170 in bank deposits. He has a Scorpio vehicle worth Rs 7.4 lakh, 10 gms of gold worth Rs 30,000 and gem worth Rs 3 lakh.
Karra’s wife has Rs 80,000 in cash, Rs 3.86 lakh in bank deposit and 500 grams of gold worth Rs 15 lakh, while his dependents have moveable assets worth Rs 4.45 lakh and Rs 8.15 lakh, respectively.
According to I-T returns filed for 2013-14, the PDP leader has a total income of Rs 2,52,000 while his wife Rs 7,59,580. Karra is richer than Union Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is the sitting MP from the seat. Farooq has total assets worth over Rs 13 crore.
Advantages
Tariq Hamid Kara could steal the show as the anti-incumbency factor on account of failure of NC-Congress rides very high
Tariq Hamid Kara has the ability to get votes in his favor from key boycott areas.
Disadvantages
Less number of Assembly Segments under PDP in this Lok Sabha Seat could be undoing for Tariq Hamid Karra
Lack of grassroots presence of PDP is challenge for Tariq Hamid Kara and it could worsen if people follow boycott call of pro-freedom leadership
RTI activist and Doctor and Raja Muzaffar Bhat is Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate against National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah and senior PDP Leader Tariq Hamid Kara .At 36, he is the youngest candidate from the Srinagar Lok Sabha Seat. – Belonging to a landlord family, Bhat is the son of lawyer-turned-government servant. His grandfather had worked as DC Budgam for some time.
He has to his credit led several movements against burning issues and garnered impressive public support for the noble causes he espouses.
Advantages
Raja Muzaffar Bhat‘s series of public welfare oriented activities and campaigns could boost his chances.
Could ride on the popularity wave of his party leader Arvind Kejriwal
Disadvantages
Virtually no grassroots presence of Aam Aadmi Party could hurt his prospects
Lack of awareness in many pockets about Aam Aadmi Party phenomenon could also be his greatest obstacle
Rashid Rahil
Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) Candidate from Srinagar Parliamentary seat Rashid Rahil is having firm hold on many constituencies of Srinagar Lok Sabha Seat. Journalist, Poet Rashid Rahil has enjoyed a reputed career and has ably displayed the power of pen and intellect in his literary career.
Advantages
The biggest plus point for Rashid Rahil could be high popular ratings of Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) Patron Engineer Rashid among masses
His literary career could be an added advantage for Rashid Rahil.
Disadvantages
Minor grassroots presence of Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) in Srinagar Parliamentary Seat could harm the electoral fortunes of Rashid Rahil
Lack of political experience could be another disadvantage for Rashid Rahil.
Rabia Baji
A former Congress activist turned social worker, is full of surprises. Rabia Baji is all set to contest coming Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar Parliamentary Seat. Born as Nirupama Kaul in a highly influential Kashmiri Pandit family, Rabia converted to Islam in 1989. She was 22-year-old then. Rest of the family, who live in Lucknow, still practice Hinduism.
Her brother is working in Thailand as Director for Pepsi South Asia, Europe and her sister, academically a Medical doctor, is working as an Associate Professor in Lucknow.
She is known as a philanthropist having conducted many beneficial activities for society especially students. Rabia Baji is the chairperson of the All India Centre for Urban and Rural Development (AICURD) – an NGO dedicated to the peace process in Kashmir and has also helped a vast students community in getting admissions in number of reputed intuitions of India
Advantages
Lone women contestant in electoral fray of Srinagar Lok sabha Seat could be a great boost for her
Rabia Baji’s Good relations with vast number of Students and Parent community are a great plus point for her
Disadvantages
Less popularity of Rabia Baji in many pockets
No grassroots worker presence in majority of pockets