Oppn banking on anti-incumbency factor, PDP on its Govt's performance

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: With Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti calling “Srinagar as PDP's heart”, the past election results suggest that summer capital's Lok Sahba constituency has remained a strong hold of the National Conference, where the party has lost only thrice for the last 50 years.

Both the political parties are fighting to ensure win of their candidates.

The Srinagar parliamentary constituency that spans over three districts-Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal goes to by-polls on April 9.

Former Chief Minister and NC president, Farooq Abdullah, is pitted as an alliance candidate of NC and Congress against PDP's Nazir Ahmad Khan. Farooq was defeated in 2014 Lok Sabha elections by former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra, who recently joined the Congress. While former Congress leader Nazir Khan lost to NC's Omar Abdullah in 2014 assembly polls from Beerwah constituency of the Budgam district.  There are seven more candidates in the election fray.

The NC-Congress as per political experts will be banking on anti-incumbency factor and seeking the anti-BJP, RSS votes.

Political expert, Professor Noor Mohammad Baba said the NC-Congress will be fighting on anti-incumbency factor. “Tariq Hamid Karra's joining to the Congress may also give advantage to Farooq Abdullah,” Prof Baba said.

Addressing a public gathering, Farooq Abdullah last week said it will be last election of his political career and asked the youngsters to strengthen the party.

The ruling PDP on the other hand are seeking votes on the developmental works that the party did in the past two years.

The NC has lost the Lok Sabha seat only thrice since 1967. The party faced its first defeat in 1971 when Shamim Ahmad Shamim defeated its candidate. Shamim had contested the polls as an Independent candidate. The NC faced its second defeat in 1996, when the Congress candidate Ghulam Mohammad Mir (Magami) emerged win from this parliamentary constituency. While Tariq Hamid Karra, who contested 2014 polls on the PDP ticket, defeated Farooq Abdullah.

It rest of elections, the NC candidates emerged winner from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad won in 1967 parliamentary elections, Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah represented it twice in 1977, Farooq Abdullah-1980, Abdul Rashid Kabuli-1984, Mohammad Shafi Bhat 1989, Omar Abdullah-1998, 1999, 2004, and Farooq Abdullah-2009 against PDP candidate Iftikhar Ansari. The NC President faced first ever political defeat in 2014 when Farooq lost to PDP's candidate Tariq Hamid Karra.

Presently, the NC is represented by its MLAs from the constituencies of Beerwah, Budgam, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Eidgah, Kangan and Ganderbal.

PDP is represented by MLAs from the constituencies of Zadibal, Amira Kadal, Sonwar, Batamaloo, Chadoora, Charar-i-Sharief and Hazratbal. Khansaheb constituency is represented by Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, PDF Chairman.

Both the NC and PDP candidates are hopeful of their victory. Addressing a public gathering recently, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said “Srinagar is our heart” and its development will be PDP's priority.”

The PDP leaders said they are sure of their win in the by-polls and people will vote for their party candidates as per the developmental works the government did in the past two years.

Addressing workers convention at party headquarters, Nazir Khan accused the National Conference of being “mother of all the problems faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.

While the NC General Secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar, said, “People will vote for the NC-Congress candidates. The PDP-BJP government has completely failed the people. People will vote for Dr Sahab (Farooq Abdullah) and ensure his victory.”