Few voters out of 1.16 million came out to vote in the south Kashmir parliamentary constituency of Anantnag also known as Islamabad till 10 A.M, official sources told IRNA.
The 1,485 polling booths in the four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama opened at 7 a.m. amid tight security with only four percent turnout recorded in the first three hours of polling, they said.
The exercise held amidst a poll boycott call given by separatist parties and militant groups, was however proceeding smoothly, reports said.
The main contest in the constituency is said to be between Mirza Mehboob Beg of the ruling National Conference (NC) and Peer Muhammad Hussain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP had swept the assembly polls held recently in this constituency.
Anantnag is the first of the three parliamentary constituencies of the Kashmir valley to go to the polls.
Voting in the prestigious Srinagar seat is scheduled for May 7 and Baramulla seat for May 13.
