Voting begins for two Lok Sabha seats in J&K: NC candidate Hasnain Masoodi , PDP spokesman Dr. Harbaksh Singh cast votes

Polling began on Monday for Ladakh and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Voters headed out to the polls in droves early Monday,in Leh and Kargil districts.

In contrast, most of the polling stations started at a dull note particularly  in Shopian and Pulwama districts where polling is being held in the third and final phase of Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.

Over 400 votes were cast in Pulwama district with a total electorate of 351,314 so far, and among those who turned to exercise their franchise included National Conference candidate and former high court judge Hasnain Masoodi.

Polling started at 7 a.m. in both the Lok Sabha seats, but it will end at 4 p.m. in Anantnag constituency and 6 p.m. in Ladakh constituency.

In the hilly Shahdab Karewa village of Shopian district, voters started to come out in good numbers to exercise their democratic rights.

In Ladakh, the contest is four-cornered between Jamyang Tsering Namgyal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rigzin Spalbar of the Congress and two independents, Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Hussain.

There are 18 candidates in fray in Anantnag, but the main contest is between Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Congress and Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference.

While, Hasnain Masoodi casted his vote at Khrew area of Pampore in Pulwama district, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), spokesperson, Dr Harbaksh Singh, casted his vote in Koil-Shikargah area of Tral sub district.