Srinagar, Nov 11 (PTI) Polling to decide the fate of 17 candidates in the Budgam assembly bypoll began on Tuesday amidst tight security arrangements, officials said.

The polling began at 7 am at 173 polling stations across the constituency and was going on smoothly, the officials said. They said the voting would end at 6 pm.

The Budgam assembly constituency has around 1.26 lakh registered voters, and all arrangements, including a tight security cover, are in place to ensure smooth polling.

The polling in being seen as a litmus test of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's government and his party the National Conference (NC).

The bypoll was necessitated after Abdullah vacated the seat following his election from the family bastion of Ganderbal as well in the last year's assembly polls.

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