With this induction, the NC's strength in the Assembly increased to 46, which is exactly the majority mark; this does not include the five MLAs to be nominated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Pyare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Choudhary Mohammed Akram, and Dr Rameshwar Singh, who won the Inderwal, Chhamb, Surankote, and Bani seats, all supported the NC.

This means that the Kashmiri party no longer needs Congress's help to govern, exacerbating the party's existential problem, which has been caused by far too many leadership squabbles and election losses, the most recent of which was in Haryana.

The NC ended counting votes on Tuesday with 42 seats, while Congress had six.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which dominated the Jammu region as expected, received 29 votes; however, the saffron outfit's total has now increased to 32 following backing from the other three independents.

The People's Democratic Party of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti fell, losing all but three seats from its 2014 tally of 28 and, with it, any chance of playing 'kingmaker'.

"People have given their mandate; they showed that they do not accept the decision made on August 5...Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister," Farooq Abdullah stated.

"It will be 'logon ka raj' here, rather than 'police raj'. We will work to free the innocent people who are jailed. Media will be free. We need to build trust between Hindus and Muslims. I am hopeful that INDIA's alliance partners will fight alongside us to restore statehood here...I understand Omar Abdullah would become the Chief Minister."

Speaking about Haryana Assembly election results, Farooq Abdullah said, "I am sad that they (Congress) have not won (in Haryana)...I think it happened due to their internal disputes."

Omar Abdullah secured the Budgam seat by more than 18,000 votes, defeating PDP candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi.

Officials started counting postal ballots, which are reserved for security personnel and others, at 8 a.m. The process is expected to be completed by 6 p.m.

Early trends

According to EARLY TRENDS, the National Conference-Congress alliance is leading in 48 seats in Jammu & Kashmir, with the BJP leading in 23 seats. According to Election Commission data, the PDP leads in three seats in the Union Territory, while the Independents lead in eight.

According to the Election Commission's trends, the National Conference led in 40 seats, while its ally Congress led in 8. 

Who will win?

Exit polls anticipated that the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance would outperform the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the region.

According to CVoter, the BJP is anticipated to win 27-32 seats out of 43 in the Jammu region, with the NC-Congress winning 11-15, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winning 0-2, and the others winning 0-1.

In Kashmir, the NC-Congress was projected to win 29-33 seats out of 47, the BJP 0-1, the PDP 6-10, and the others 6-10. 

Overall, the NC-Congress was projected to win 40-48 of 90 seats, followed by the BJP with 27-32, the PDP with 6-12, and others with 6-11. A party or alliance needs 46 seats to form a government.

Key constituency battles to watch- 

One of the key constituencies is Gandebral, where Omar Abdullah of the National Conference is up against Independent candidate Sarjan Ahmad Wagay. In Bijbehara, the PDP's Iltija Mufti has been fielded.

In Sopore, Aijaz Ahmad Guroo, the brother of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, is running as an Independent candidate. In Channapora, the JKAP's Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari is running. Muzaffar Hussain Baig is running as an Independent candidate in Baramulla.

Sajad Lone of the People's Conference is in Kupwara, and Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan is in Handwara.

Devendra Singh Rana represents the BJP in Nagrota, whereas Tariq Hameed Karra of the INC is a candidate in Central Shalteng.

The first assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir since 2014 were held in three phases. The first phase, held on September 18, included voting for 24 seats, followed by the second phase on September 25, which covered 26 seats.

The third and final round, which included voting for the remaining 40 seats, took place on October 1.

With this, polling in the Union Territory has ended, with results scheduled for October 8.

According to ECI data, Udhampur had the highest poll percentage of 72.91 percent, followed by Samba (72.41 percent), Kathua (70.53 percent), Jammu (66.79 percent), Bandipora (64.85 percent), Kupwara (62.76 percent), and Baramulla (55.73 percent).

"The elections were a resounding statement in favour of democracy in line with the CEC Rajiv Kumar's vote of confidence given during the announcement of the general elections in J&K on August 16," press release from the ECI read.

This is the first election in Jammu & Kashmir since the repeal of Article 370.

24 of the 40 constituencies are in the Jammu division, with the rest located in the Kashmir Valley. The third phase featured at least 415 candidates, including former Congress deputy Chief Ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Hussain Beig.

High-profile leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah (BJP), Lok Sabha Leader Rahul Gandhi, and former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti campaigned extensively for weeks.

The poll percentage in the first round of voting on September 18 was 61.13 percent, while in the second phase on September 25, it was 56.31 percent.

The West Pakistani refugee community is voting in the assembly elections for the first time since earning citizenship following the repeal of Article 370.

According to the election body, the district-wise turnout is -

Anantnag: 25.55%

Doda: 32.20%

Kishtwar: 32.69%

Kulgam: 25.95%

Pulwama: 20.37%

Ramban: 31.25%

Shopian: 25.96%

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections 2024:

As the first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir begins on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged voters to come out in huge numbers to strengthen the festival of democracy.

PM Modi urged first-time voters to use their right to vote in a post on X.

"As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in constituencies going to the polls today to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly call upon young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise," PM Modi stated.

Polling for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections began at 7 a.m. today, amid tight security. Voting will conclude at 6 p.m. Long lines of voters were visible at polling stations in the morning.

In the first phase, 24 assembly constituencies across the Union Territory will vote today, including 16 seats in Kashmir and 8 seats in Jammu.

Voting for the second and third phases of J-K will take place on September 25 and October 1, respectively. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.

This is the first Assembly election in J-K since the repeal of Article 370 in August 2019.

A panel comprising Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan upheld the trial court's decision that denied Omar Abdullah's plea for divorce. The Delhi High Court, in its dismissal of the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister's appeal against the 2016 ruling of the trial court, stated that there were insufficient grounds for the case.

Omar Abdullah had filed for divorce citing cruelty by his estranged wife, Payal Abdullah. However, the court found the allegations of cruelty to be vague and unsupported. The judgment highlighted the lack of evidence provided by Omar Abdullah to substantiate any acts, whether physical or mental, that could be considered as grounds for cruelty. The trial court had previously rejected Omar Abdullah's divorce plea in 2016, stating the insufficiency of evidence to support his claims of "cruelty" or "desertion" – the reasons he cited for the divorce decree.

In response to the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Home Minister stated that the bills seek to provide justice to those who have been forced to become refugees in their own country.

"I am glad that throughout the whole discussion and debate over the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023, no member opposed the 'tattva' (substance) of the Bill."

He stated that there is a significant difference between giving rights and giving rights respectfully.

"The Bill that I have brought here pertains to bringing justice to and providing rights to those against whom injustice was done, who were insulted and those who were ignored. In any society, those who are deprived should be brought forward. That is the basic sense of the Constitution of India. But they have to be brought forward in a way that doesn't reduce their respect. There is a huge difference between giving rights and giving rights respectfully. So, instead of weak and deprived category renaming it to Other Backward Class is important."

Amit Shah further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi understands the plight of the poor.

"A few people also tried to underestimate it...someone said that only the name is being changed. I would like to tell all of them that if we have even a little sympathy then we need to see that respect is attached to the name. This can be seen by only those who want to bring them forward considering them like their brothers. Those who use it as a vote bank for their own political benefit...Narendra Modi is a leader who was born into a poor family and became the Prime Minister of the country today. He knows the pain of the poor."

One of the bills seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, which was passed in 2004. It was enacted to provide for reservation in appointment and admission to professional institutions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes.

The bill proposes to change the nomenclature of "weak and underprivileged classes (social castes)" to "other backward classes" and to make other consequential changes to Section 2 of the Reservation Act.

In the fresh encounter that broke out this morning between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag, officers from the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police were injured. 

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Jammu and Kashmir Police also took to their official ‘X’ handle (former Twitter) and wrote, "An encounter has started in Kokernag area of Anantnag. Officers from te Army and JKP (Jammu and Kashmir Police) injured. Details shall follow."

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, one terrorist was gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district in the ongoing exchange firefight between the security forces and terrorists that began a day ago. 

"Second terrorist has been gunned down in the ongoing encounter in Narla area of Rajouri," Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu said.

#rajouriencounter Updates
The second #terrorist gunned down in ensuing encounter in Narla area of #Rajouri district .

— Police Media Centre Jammu (@ZPHQJammu) September 13, 2023

On Tuesday, a top police official said one terrorist was gunned down while a soldier also lost his life in the encounter, which broke out in the Narla area. Three security personnel, including a Special Police Officer (SPO), also sustained injuries in the exchange of fire.

One #terrorist killed. One army jawan #martyred, three others including one #Police SPO injured in the ensuing #encounter in Narla area of #Rajouri district.

— Police Media Centre Jammu (@ZPHQJammu) September 12, 2023

A six-year-old dog (female labrador) from the Army's canine unit also laid down her life shielding her handler during the encounter. 

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Last week also a terrorist was killed in an encounter in a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir police last week in the Reasi district.

The yatra will travel to Nehru Park in the city's Boulevard area and conclude on Monday.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, resumed on Friday morning from the National Highway-44, Banihal Railway station, in the Ramban district of Uttar Pradesh.

Security was increased in the area following the recent twin blasts on the outskirts of Jammu city on January 22, which shook a busy locality in Narwal and injured at least nine people.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began on September 7 in Kanyakumari and will end on January 30 in Srinagar, will cover 3,970 kilometres, 12 states, and two Union territories.

Amid row over 'Registration of New Voters in Jammu and Kashmir', Lone addressed a media conference on Monday and stated, "We as a party neither accept the clarification given by the government in totality nor do we reject it. We know the current administration here or in Delhi doesn't hold political parties in Jammu and Kashmir in high esteem." He also added that the decision to add non-locals to the voter list is not part of the law.

"We had our own constitution earlier and our legislature had formed a law which defined everything. However, it is not the law that is a threat to us, but we are scared of those who are implementing the law. If we feel there is demographic intervention or the rights of the people of J-K are compromised, then we will sit on hunger strike in front of Parliament in Delhi,' he said.

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"There are several court verdicts, for example, Dr Manmohan Singh Vs ECI when he had to contest election from Assam where the Supreme Court upheld Guwahati High Court judgement and ordered that ordinary resident - student, armed force, etc. are not permissible, a person should be living in the area for a considerable time," he said, citing the Dr Manmohan Singh vs Election Commission of India case.

Earlier on August 17, Election Commission announced the schedule of the Special Summary Revision in Jammu and Kashmir and stated that the people who were not voters in the Assembly after the abrogation of Article 370 from the region can now be named on the voter's list. According to an official, the person does not have to be a "permanent resident" of the Union Territory. Now, non-locals including employees, students, labourers or anyone from outside who is living ordinarily in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir can register their names on the voting list.

However, the opposition has slammed this development in Jammu and Kashmir and called non-local voters 'imported voters.' The opposition claims that 'imported voters' are a BJP ploy to seek backdoor entry into J&K.

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]]> Talking about the situation in the Union Territory, Azad said, "If election happens (in Kashmir) and the power is given in the hands of people, then I believe all will be well." When asked about the 'peace' situation and 'Kashmiriyat', a term which is often used to describe the culture of brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress leader said: "Kashmiriyat is there like it was there before. There is no change. People are the same. They still love each other. The same secularism and socialism exist there." To celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr, the senior Congress leader offered namaz at the Parliament Street Mosque in Delhi earlier on Tuesday. Also Read | India is unstoppable; its time on world stage has come: PM's Special Advisor He added on the occasion of Eid, "It's a matter of joy to get some relief from COVID finally. People reached the road because of space constraints... may walls of hatred break for eternity." Earlier this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that elections would be conducted after the delimitation exercise was over, following consultation with political parties. The Centre bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in August 2019. According to reports, Delimitation Commission is going to submit its final report within days. On April 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after Article 370 was scrapped. Also Read | Chandigarh revokes its decision restricting unvaccinated students from attending classes -PTC News ]]> Speaking on reversing the decision of the government on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad while addressing a rally in Pooch district said that only Supreme Court can take such a decision or Congress has to come power with 300 plus seats but he does not see that happening. Also Read | Covid-19: US reports 1st case of Omicron variant However, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that he prays that Congress wins over 300 seats. "Only Supreme Court can decide on Article 370. Besides the apex court, only the ruling government can do it. The current government has abrogated it, how will they do it? And I cannot assure you that Congress will win 300 seats in the 2024 elections. I pray that Congress wins 300 seats but I don't see that happening now," said the Congress leader. Also Read | Omicron variant scare: DDMA issues guidelines for arrivals at Delhi airport Earlier this week, Azad had urged political parties to create an environment in the state that the people start believing that the election can be held and political process can be carried out. "I am not going into party politics now. I am not speaking against any party now because this is not the environment in the state right now where one party speaks against the other. Rather I would request that all political parties, instead of abusing each other, should create such an environment in the state that the people here start believing that the election can be held and the politics could be done," he had said. "Usually, Union Territories are upgraded to State. But in our case, a State was downgraded to UT. It's like demoting DGP to a post of thanedaar (SHO), CM to MLA, and Chief Secretary to Patwari. No wise man can do this," he added. -PTC News ]]>The first-ever open-air floating theatre in Jammu and Kashmir has been launched in the famous Dal Lake.

Also read | Fuel price India update: Petrol, diesel rates touch record high levels During the concluding ceremony of the ongoing 'Iconic Week' celebrations, the floating theatre was inaugurated by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta. This theatre at Dal Lake aims at attracting tourism to the Union Territory. Kashmir has earned fame on a global level for its natural beauty and Bollywood filmmakers have called it a 'photographers paradise'. On this occasion, a Shikara rally, adorned with shining lights, passed through Nehru Park to Kabootar Khana with local artistes singing and dancing to Kashmiri songs that entertained guests and passersby. Also read | Google Photos' Locked Folder feature coming to iOS soon Bollywood film 'Kashmir ki Kali' was shown to tourists and residents of the area in the theatre. Sarmad Hafeez, secretary, Tourism and Culture, Jammu and Kashmir, said the theatre would benefit tourism in the Union Territory. "We have a great demand for evening activities. The concept of open-air is pretty unique, not found anywhere in this world. It will greatly advantage the tourism in Kashmir. Shikara, houseboat owners, the hotel industry is welcoming tourists with open hands." "Jammu and Kashmir is the safest from the Covid-19 point of view since the entire tourist industry is vaccinated. Various capacity-building programmes were done on Covid protocols by the industry. Since the winter is coming soon, hope people from the country and world would visit Jammu and Kashmir," he added. -PTC News

• The Jammu and Kashmir DDC election 2020 will be conducted in 8 phases starting from Saturday. It will be held till December 19.
• The counting will be held on December 22.

• Around 1,427 candidates are in the race and over 7 lakh voters are eligible for voting.
• Of 7 lakh voters, 3.72 lakh are from the Kashmir division and 3.28 lakh are from the Jammu division.

• A total of 2,146 polling stations have been established.
• In phase 1 of the DDC election 2020, 296 candidates are in the race that includes 207 men and 89 women.

• Of 280 DDC seats in the union territory - 140 each in the Jammu and Kashmir regions. 43 constituencies will go for elections in the first phase -- 25 in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu.
• These elections are to be held using ballot papers.