Despite the poll boycott call by separatists, a record number of 102 candidates are trying their luck for first phase of polling from 10 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir.

First phase of polling will be held on 17 Nov.

The Election Commission had announced a seven phase polling programme for J&K.

The contituencies going to the polls are - Gurez, Bandipora and Sonawari in the Kashmir Valley, Leh, Nobra, Zanskar and Kargil in the Ladakh region and Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch-Haveli in the Jammu region.

Sonawari and Bandipora will see 22 and 19 candidates respectively in the fray. There are six candidates in Gurez, Poonch-Haveli has 13, Mendhar 12, Surankote 11, five each in Kargil, Leh and Zanskar and four in Nobra.

“The 10 constituencies will have 1,064 polling stations and shall be manned by over 5,000 officials,” a poll official told.

The separatist leaders have called for a march to Bandipora and Sonawari Nov 17 as part of their poll boycott programme.