SRINAGAR: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