By IANS,
Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) : Voting for the five assembly constituencies of Kupwara district in north Kashmir began on a dull note Sunday due to the cold weather.
Five assembly constituencies of Kupwara, Handwara, Lolab, Langate and Karnah went to the polls at 8 a.m. but few people came to cast their votes.
“We expect polling to pick up in the day as temperatures rise. The first two phases of elections held in the state saw high voter turnout. We are expecting the same in this district,” a poll official said.
Sunday’s poll will decide the political fate of 71 candidates, including 31 independents and five women.
“The contesting candidates have engaged in hectic campaigning. The election meetings of various parties and independent candidates were well attended. So we expect many people to come out and vote today,” the official added.
480 polling stations have been set up throughout the district. Elaborate security arrangements have been made since 200 of the polling booths have been categorised as hyper-sensitive and 80 as sensitive.