Srinagar, April 29
The Srinagar parliamentary constituency will go to the polls tomorrow amid tight security, shadow of a possible shutdown and an appeal for a boycott. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party senior leader Tariq Hameed Karra are the main contenders for the seat.

The constituency, spread over three districts (Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal) and 15 Assembly segments, has 12,00,739 voters and 14 candidates, including eight Independents. “All arrangements are in place across the entire constituency,” said Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah, who is also the District Election Officer for the constituency. Besides 15,000 central paramilitary personnel, policemen from the counter-insurgent unit would also be deployed at critical locations to thwart any possible militant attack.

Around 400 persons, including separatist leaders and activists, former protesters and released militants, have been detained in central Kashmir ahead of the polling. Separatist leaders have appealed to the people to boycott the polling tomorrow, which they condemned as a “military exercise”. Separatists have also given a call for a shutdown on the polling day.

The main contest in the constituency is between National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is seeking a re-election to the Lok Sabha, and PDP’s Tariq Hamid Karra.