JK Polling picks up in Anantnag

Polling in Anantnag parliamentary constituency of South Kashmir started picking up pace with nearly 12% of the 11.65 lakh electorate exercising their franchise in the first four hours of voting today amidst a poll boycott call by the separatists.      

"An estimated 11.83% electorate cast their ballots in Anantnag parliamentary constituency, spread over four districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian till 11 am," a spokesman of the election office said. Noorabad assembly segment of Kulgam district recorded the highest percentage of 37.82, while Tral assembly segment of Pulwama district recorded a low of 0.90%, he said.      Pahalgam in Anantnag district witnessed 22% voters, the spokesman said.     

Polling began on a dull note in the 16 assembly segments of the constituency this morning, amid tight security arrangements in view of a poll boycott called by separatists. Anantnag constituency is the largest among four parliamentary constituencies in Kashmir division going to polls in terms of electorate, number of districts assembly segments as well as polling stations. Anantnag district is 55 kms from Srinagar.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the constituency in view of a strike called by the separatists to protest against the polls.  Chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed  Ali Shah Geelani, who is under house arrest since April 12, called for a 50-hour strike starting 6 pm Tuesday to protest against the elections. "It is premature to say that the low turnout so far was the result of the poll boycott call given by separatists and the threat held out by militants. We are expecting that people will come out as the day advances and cast their ballot," an official spokesman said.  

A PTI reporter, who went round various areas of the constituency, saw small groups of people venturing into the polling stations to cast their ballots. 45-year-old Ghulam Nabi was the first person to cast his vote at Gashtang polling station in Bijbehara area at 7.05 am. Out of 630 votes, only 16 votes were polled at the booth in the first hour of polling. 35-year-old Jamsheed Ahmad Dar, a resident of Taribal, was the first person to vote at Kari Kadal polling station. He came out of his house exactly at 7 am and cast his ballot, setting the trend for a good turnout.   

In the last assembly elections in 2008, the four districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam which forms part of Anantnag parliamentary constituency recorded a poll percentage of over 56%.  However, in 2004 parliamentary polls, the constituency recorded a total poll percentage of 15.04.