Srinagar, a significant city within the tumultuous region of Jammu and Kashmir, is preparing for voting in the fourth phase of India's general elections amidst growing apprehensions regarding the low participation of voters and the increasingly bitter nature of the campaign. In an interesting turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party has decided not to put forth candidates in Srinagar or the two other constituencies located in the Muslim-majority Kashmir area. Instead, the BJP is focusing its efforts on contesting the two seats within the Hindu-majority Jammu region.

The Modi-led government, known for its Hindu nationalist stance, made good on a longstanding campaign pledge by revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status in August 2019, shortly after securing a second term. This controversial move was met with widespread criticism as it resulted in the detention of local politicians for extended periods and a complete shutdown of communication services in the region, further fueling the already existing tensions in the area.