Polling begins to pick up in Srinagar, records dismal 5.14% till 11AM

Polling started picking up in most parts of the central Kashmir's Srinagar parliamentary constituency, but remained sluggish in the city here which recorded 5.1%  in the first four hours. The constituency spread over three districts of Budgam, Srinagar and Ganderbal comprises of 15 assembly constituencies. Srinagar recorded a poll percentage of 5.14 till 11 am, an official spokesman said here.

He said Ganderbal recorded 20.40%t, while 15.06% of polling was recorded in Budgam district. The Srinagar Lok Sabha seat has 12.31 lakh voters including 5.72 lakh women who are eligible to cast their votes at 1546 polling stations. Of the 1546 polling stations, only 3.5% have been declared as normal. According to security agencies, 1021 polling stations have been declared as hypersensitive and 470 as sensitive.

In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the turnout in the constituency was only 25.55%. Union Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah is seeking re-election from the seat. He is up against several other candidates including PDP's Tariq Hamid Karra.

Abdullah has won the seat every time barring 1971 and 1996 when his party did not contest the polls.