LS by-polls in Srinagar Parliament seat tommorrow

Srinagar: The stage is set for parliament by-polls in Srinagar-Budgam constituency in which the voters seal fate of nine candidates, including former chief minister and NC president, Dr Farooq, amidst tight security in following three militant attacks in the summer capital in the last week.

The officials informed KNS that around 200 additional companies of Para-military forces have been deployed for smooth conduct of polls.

They also informed that the 25 companies of Armed Police have been deployed by the police in the two constituencies for smooth campaigning and elections.

The officials informed KNS that at least 12,61,397 voters at 1559 polling stations are slated to cast their votes in the bye-elections for Srinagar parliament seat on Sunday where at least 6236 polling staff has been deployed.

18 per cent turnout was recorded in the parliament elections for Srinagar seat in 2014 in which the then PDP leader, Tariq Hameed Karra emerged as winner with huge margin defeating Farooq Abdullah.

The Srinagar Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after senior Congress leader Tariq Hamid Karra resigned from his office and PDD as well.

The Srinagar parliament polls on Sunday will seal the fate of nine candidates including NC patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah, PDP senior leader, Nazir Ahmad Khan, Senior Rashtriya Jankranti Party (RJP) leader, Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha leader, Chetan Sharma, Rashtriya Samajwadi Party (Secular) leader, Sajad Reshi and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Bikram Singh, besides three independent candidates, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Ghulam Hassan Dar, Mehraj Rashid Malik.

Ahead of the by-polls for Srinagar and Anantnag seat, three militants attack took place on security forces in which a policeman and a CRPF man were killed and several others injured.

A top security official told KNS that security arrangements have been made to ensure the “smooth” conduct of by-polls.

Amidst the situation in Valley, the political pundits believe that that there would be low turnouts in the by-polls.

“The 2016 unrest and the civilian killings in the Valley could result in the low turnout in the by-polls,” political observers said. (KNS)