Srinagar, May 25: Over 23 per cent polling was recorded till 11am in the sixty phase of Lok Sabha elections for Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
The highest voter turnout till 11am was recorded in the Rajouri at 34%. The constituency in general has recorded a turnout of 23.11%.
At least 20 candidates are in the fray for the polls while the tight contest is expected between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and its candidate, Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference (NC) leader Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi.
Some of the known figures who are vying for the seat include Apni Party’s Zaffar Iqbal Manhas and Ghulam Nabi Azad led Democratic Progressive Azad Party’s leader Mohamad Saleem Parray. 10 independent candidates too are trying their luck from the constituency.
Pertinently, the elections for the constituency was deferred earlier in this month after the leaders from different political parties sent a letter to Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking the deferment of polls in wake of the closure of the Mughal Road due to the inclement weather conditions.
As per the figures, a total of 1,830,294 voters including 930,379 males and 899,888 females are set to decide the fate of 20 candidates. There are over 81 thousand first time voters across 18 assembly segments including 7 in Anantnag, 4 in Rajouri, 3 each in Kulgam and Poonch and one in Shopian.
