Stage set for intense election battle in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 17: As one walks through the bustling alleys of Downtown Srinagar, an unmistakable wave of excitement fills the air. The usual hum of daily life is punctuated by the blare of campaign slogans and loudspeakers mounted on vehicles urging citizens to vote for their chosen candidates.

This isn’t the usual quiet, reserved run-up to an election that Srinagar has witnessed in the past, where low voter turnout and restricted campaigning often characterised the process. This time, there’s a noticeable change: a vibrant and competitive atmosphere, with candidates making aggressive pitches. On September 25, after a gap of 10 long years, Srinagar will see its 7.44 lakh eligible voters cast their ballots to decide the fate of 93 candidates including 44 independents across 8 Assembly constituencies.

What makes this election stand out isn’t just the passage of time since the last poll or the shifting political landscape, but the prominence of independent candidates. Nearly 50% of those contesting are independents, turning what was once a duel between traditional powerhouses into a multi-sided battle with no clear frontrunner.

Historically, Srinagar has been the crown jewel for the National Conference (NC), a party with a deep-rooted legacy in Jammu & Kashmir politics. However, the political terrain has evolved dramatically. In the 2014 Assembly elections, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) dealt a blow to NC’s dominance by snatching 5 out of the 8 seats in the city. This time, the stakes are higher and the field is more crowded.

The contest isn’t limited to NC and PDP; Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party has entered the fray, adding a new dimension to an already complex race. Bukhari, a former PDP leader who previously won the Amira Kadal seat, is contesting from Chanapora, where he faces 7 rivals, including 3 independents. BJP, People's Conference too have fielded its candidates.

In Habba Kadal, which has the highest number of contestants, 16 candidates are battling it out. Prominent figures like NC's Shamima Firdous and PDP’s Arif Laigaroo are facing stiff competition from 6 independent candidates, making the race unpredictable. Likewise, in Khanyar, long considered NC’s impregnable fortress, Ali Muhammad Sagar, who has held the seat since 1996, is fighting against 9 others, including 6 independents. The presence of so many independent contenders adds an air of suspense to a race that was once seen as Sagar’s to lose.

Perhaps the most intriguing contest is in Zadibal, home to the largest voter population in Srinagar with 1,08,938 registered voters. Here, 10 candidates are in the running, including 6 independents, including Junaid Mattu, the former mayor of Srinagar. His entry as an independent has shaken up the race, further complicating the dynamics in a constituency that is already a melting pot of political ambitions.

In Central Shalteng, the NC-Congress alliance has fielded Tariq Hamid Karra, the J&K Congress chief. Interestingly, in this very constituency, NC’s Irfan Shah is contesting as an independent, setting up an unusual intra-party rivalry. Out of the 13 candidates in Shalteng, 8 are independents, ensuring that votes will be split, and the outcome remains far from predictable.

Eidgah, which has the lowest voter count at 59,994, is also witnessing an intense battle with 13 candidates, 6 of whom are independents. Lal Chowk and Hazratbal are similarly seeing a large number of independents challenging the dominance of established political parties, reflecting the desire for fresh voices in Srinagar’s political discourse. In Lal Chowk, 10 candidates are in the fray, with 4 independents, while Hazratbal has 13 candidates, 5 of them running independently.

Srinagar's electorate is almost evenly split between males (3.75 lakh) and females (3.73 lakh), making it one of the most gender-balanced voting populations in the UT.

The stakes are high, and the mood on the streets reflects that. This election, the first after the abrogation of Article 370 and a decade-long gap, promises to reshape the political map of Srinagar. For the first time in years, the outcome isn’t just about party loyalty—it’s about which candidate can best connect with the aspirations of a city looking for change. With a total of 7.44 lakh voters poised to make their voices heard, Srinagar’s political destiny hangs in the balance.