SRINAGAR, May 5:
Campaigning for the largely “hypersensitive” Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency of Kashmir came to an end this evening with candidates making last minute efforts to woo the voters.
Although there are 15 candidates in the fray for the north Kashmir parliamentary constituency, the contest is seen as a direct fight between ruling National Conference leader and sitting MP Sharief-ud-Din Shariq and opposition PDP stalwart Muzaffar Hussain Baig – former deputy Chief Minister of the state.
The contesting candidates organised 63 elections rallies and roadshows across the constituency spread over three districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara, Returning officer for the constituency Farooq Ahmad Lone told PTI.
He said all the necessary arrangements have been made for smooth, free and fair conduct of the elections.
Lone said the necessary security arrangements have also been put in place to ward off any disruptive elements during the polling.
“Keeping in view law and order situation, we have relocated 61 polling stations from Old Town Baramulla, Sopore town and Palhallan. Permission from the Election Commission was sought in this regard,” he said.
The electioneering for Barmalla Lok Sabha seat has been by and large peaceful. There was incident of violence when a militant shot and injured our persons at Sangrama on April 29.
The Baramulla parliamentary constituency comprises 15 assembly seats. Out of these, seven constituencies are currently represented by the NC, while PDP won five seats in the assembly elections held in 2008.
Congress has a lone MLA from the three districts – Taj Mohi-ud-din from the border town of Uri, while two seats are being represented by independents – Sheikh (Langate) and Ghulam Hassan Mir (Gulmarg).
In 2009 elections, NC’s Shariq had polled total 2,03,022 votes and defeated his main rival PDP’s Mohammad Dilawar Mir by a margin of 64,814 votes.
Although Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency has several pockets where separatists command influence, the seat has generally witnessed higher turnout compared to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats.
The voter turnout in 2009 Lok Sabha polls for this constituency was 41.84 per cent significantly higher than Anantnag’s 27 per cent and Srinagar’s 25.55 per cent recorded five years ago.
The constituency has an electorate of 11.51 lakh including 5.45 lakh women who are eligible to exercise their right to franchise at 1616 polling stations.
Out of the 1616 polling stations, only 80 have been declared as normal, while 1091 have been declared as hypersensitive and 445 as sensitive.
The first Lok Sabha election was held here in 1967.
National Conference has won elections from this constituency every time barring in 1967, 1971 and 1996, when it did not contest the polls. Congress candidates represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha for these three terms. (AGENCIES)
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