13.61% polling in Anantnag LS seat in first phase

Amid shutdown, unprecedented security arrangements and Internet gag, 13.61% polling was recorded in the first phase of the three-phased Anantnag Lok Sabha elections in south Kashmir on Tuesday.

J&K Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar told reporters here that 13.61% polling was recorded in Anantnag seat. Polling began at 7 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m, two hours earlier than scheduled due to “security reasons.” The Election Commission curtailed the polling duration following a request from the state police.

714 polling stations were set up for 5,23,566 voters in six polling segments of Bijbehara, Pahalgam, Shangus, Anantnag, Kokernag and Dooru. The constituency is going to polls in three-phases in view of “security concerns”, as it comprises of four volatile districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, the epi-center of new age militancy in Kashmir.

Authorities had made extra ordinary security arrangements to secure polling stations and ensure safe passage to voters. Securing polling stations, preventing militants from disrupting the poll process and ensuring that no law and order situation builds up during the day were the main challenges before the security agencies.

Security forces had also been deployed along roads and hillside areas overlooking the polling stations to prevent militants from disrupting the poll process. Mobile Internet facility and train services were suspended for the day as a precautionary measure.

Regional People’s Democratic Party President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference candidate Justice (Retired) Hasnain Masoodi and State Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir in locked in a triangular contest in this constituency.

A lawyer from Uttar Pradesh, Shams Khwaja and a lone female candidate, Ridwana Sanam are also in the run.

While separatist groups had asked people to boycott the polls in line with their three-decade-old anti-election policy, Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir based United Jihad Council (UJC) has issued a strong warning to those participating in the polls, asking them to stay away from the poll exercise.

The polls are being held at a time when the State is under President’s rule after the fall of Mehbooba Mufti-led government following withdrawal of support to it by the BJP in June 2018.