Polling began in this parliamentary constituency on a dull note amid tight security arrangements in view of the 50-hour strike and poll boycott call given by separatists.
Ahead of the commencement of polling, a petrol bomb was hurled at a polling booth set up inside a private school on the outskirts of the city but it exploded in the compound of the institute. No one was hurt in the incident.
Polling started at 0700 hrs with almost all the polling stations wearing a deserted look during the first half-an-hour even as a bright sun shone after cloudy weather for the last four days.
Spread over three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal, Srinagar parliamentary constituency has 11 lakh voters who will decide the fate of National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and 14 other contestants.
Among the formidable opponents of Abdullah are PDP's Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and his estranged sister Begum Khalida Shah, president of Awami National Conference.
Polling is also being held in Sonawar Assembly constituency of Srinagar. The bye-poll was necessitated as the seat was vacated by NC president Farooq Abdullah following his election to the Rajya Sabha. Three candidates are in the fray.
