Thirty-two per cent polling by Kashmiri migrants was registered for the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, election officials have said.

Till 5 pm, the turnout had already crossed its previous best of 50 per cent, registering 54.57 per cent before settling at 59 per cent by the end of day.

Polling in North Kashmir’s Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency which includes segments of central Kashmir Budgam district began on Monday, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Sajad Lone and Jailed leader Engineer Rasheed are in the fray for the seat.

With the first major political fray, post the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the fates of Omar Abdullah, the National Conference vice-president and a former chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, and 21 others will be decided today. 

Extensive campaigning is underway for the seat, with the NC's senior leadership seeking votes for statehood and opposing the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.

"A total of 25,821 Kashmiri migrants are registered as voters from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency on May 20. Of these, 12,747 are male voters and 13,074 are female voters," Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), Migrants, Riaz Ahmed said.

Addressing a public rally in Zachaldara Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara, Abdullah said the PDP candidate did not vote against repealing Article 370 in the Rajya Sabha.

Prominent candidates here include former chief minister and vice president of the National Conference Omar Abdullah; JK People’s Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone, People’s Democratic Party candidate Mir Mohammad Fayaz, and the jailed Abdul Rashid Sheikh.