The polling station at Burn Hall School was the center of attraction for the media persons who were waiting for Farooq Abdullah to cast his vote there.
At around 10 am, Farooq arrived in a black-colored SUV alongwith his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah.
The 83-year old politician is fighting what he termed as his”last election” against PDP’s Aga Syed Mohisn, PC’s Irfan Ansari and BJP’sKhalid Jehangir.
“This time people areaware of the situation in our nation and are really afraid of what is happeningin the country. We are hopeful that people have realized the need to make theNC victorious,” Abdullah said, confident of his victory.
“We tried our best tomake public understand our agenda for contesting elections,” he said.
Omar interrupted him, saying 2019 Lok Sabha elections inKashmir were different from the by-elections of 2017.
“In 2017 we barely managed one or two meetings outdoors andall our election activity was confined to closed rooms. In this election wefound electorate far more receptive,” Omar said.
“I don’t know about turnout but at least in terms ofatmosphere for campaigning and the receptiveness of people to our message, thepeople were far more receptive today,” he said.
Omar called for early Assembly elections in J&K, statingthat given the environment in which elections and campaigning were held innorthern and central Kashmir districts, the Government of India and theElection Commission (EC) should provide the people of J&K the opportunityto choose their elected government.
“Government of India is now running out of excuses to delayAssembly polls which were delayed because of Lok Sabha (LS) polls,” Omar said.
Meanwhile, voters at Ram Munshi Bagh and several otherpolling stations in Lal Chowk announced their support for Farooq Abdullah.
“We voted for NC because we have high expectations fromFarooq Abdullah. His entry to parliament will prove fruitful for Kashmiris,”said Mehraj-ud-Din, a voter from Malteng.
As many as 82 votes had been polled at the three pollingstations set in Burnhall School by 10:45am.