Srinagar: The voter turnout in the first three hours of re-polling in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabah constituency on Thursday has been an abysmal 1%.
The polling began at 7am and will end at 4pm. All these polling stations are located in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, the worst-hit by violence during polling on Sunday.
Only 344 voters of the 34,169 eligible persons cast their votes across all polling stations till 10am, officials said in Srinagar. No votes were polled in Budgam and Khansahib assembly segments while only two votes were polled in Chrar-e-Sharief segment of the Lok Sabha constituency in the corresponding period, they said. Chadoora, which was worst hit by violence during Sunday’s polling, recorded 200 votes while Beerwah assembly segment saw 142 people turn up to vote, the officials said.
Eight persons were killed in security forces firing on rampaging protestors on Sunday. The Election Commission has ordered a re-poll on 38 worst affected polling stations.
Only 7.14% of the 12.61 lakh electorate cast their votes during the polling for by-election to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday amid large-scale protests and violence around polling stations at dozens of places across the constituency.
Nine candidates, including National Conference stalwart Farooq Abdullah and ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s Nazir Ahmad Khan are in the fray. The counting of the votes for the constituency will take place on 15 April.
The seat fell vacant following resignation of PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra both from the Lower House of the Parliament and his party in protest against the “atrocities” on people during summer agitation last year in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on 8 July.
