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Kashmir: Regional PDP ahead in elections Kashmir: Regional PDP ahead in elections
(about 4 hours later)
A regional party has inched ahead of its nearest rival as votes are being counted in Indian-administered Kashmir. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has seen off Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP to win the largest number of seats in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Results and trends available show the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). But results and trends available show no party has won the 44 seats needed to form a government in the 87-member state assembly.
A party needs 44 seats in the 87-member state assembly to form the government. Correspondents say the polls look set to result in a coalition government.
The disputed Kashmir region is claimed by both India and Pakistan. It has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years and the rivals have fought two wars over the region. The disputed Kashmir region is claimed by both India and Pakistan.
It has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years and the rivals have fought two wars over the region.
Thousands of soldiers were deployed in and around polling stations during the five-phase voting which began on 25 November and ended on 20 December.Thousands of soldiers were deployed in and around polling stations during the five-phase voting which began on 25 November and ended on 20 December.
Some 65% of the more than a million eligible voters cast their ballots, authorities said.Some 65% of the more than a million eligible voters cast their ballots, authorities said.
Two regional parties dominate politics in Kashmir - the governing National Conference and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At 18:00 (12:30 GMT), the PDP had won 27 seats and was leading in one more race, while the BJP had won 25 seats.
Correspondents says the BJP has never been a serious contender and it has a non-existent base in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley, given its hardline views on the state's tenuous relationship with India. The state's governing National Conference party was close behind with 15 seats, while the Congress party has won 11 seats and is leading in one other race.
The remaining seven seats have been won by smaller regional parties and independent candidates.
Correspondents say it will only become clear over the coming days as to who will form the next government in Kashmir.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has said her party "will not try to cobble up a government by manipulation. It will take time to build a formation which can fulfil the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir".
At the scene: Faisal Mohammad Ali, BBC Hindi, SrinagarAt the scene: Faisal Mohammad Ali, BBC Hindi, Srinagar
The generally-deserted main convention centre in Srinagar is agog with politicians, media and security personnel as votes are counted inside.The generally-deserted main convention centre in Srinagar is agog with politicians, media and security personnel as votes are counted inside.
The temperature has dipped to an icy cold 2C, but this has not deterred supporters of political parties from gathering outside the place to get the first news about the results.The temperature has dipped to an icy cold 2C, but this has not deterred supporters of political parties from gathering outside the place to get the first news about the results.
The first candidate to win a seat in the state belonged to the BJP. His supporters started bursting firecrackers, and said the BJP was confident of forming the new government.The first candidate to win a seat in the state belonged to the BJP. His supporters started bursting firecrackers, and said the BJP was confident of forming the new government.
As vote counting continued, the regional PDP inched ahead, and it was the turn of their supporters to begin shouting jubilant slogans. But as vote counting continued, the regional PDP inched ahead, and it was the turn of their supporters to begin shouting jubilant slogans.
From the results and trends available so far, it appears that no party will be able to obtain a majority on its own, and the state is headed for a coalition government. The politics of Kashmir has long been dominated by the two regional parties, the National Conference and the PDP, and the BJP has never been a serious contender in the Muslim-dominated valley, given its hardline views on the state's tenuous relationship with India.
But under Mr Modi, who swept to power in the May general elections, the BJP is making an audacious bid to capture Jammu and Kashmir. But the BJP made an audacious bid to capture Jammu and Kashmir under Mr Modi, who swept to power in the May general elections.
At 15:00IST (09:30GMT), the PDP had won 15 seats and was ahead in 14 others, while the BJP had won 18 seats and was leading in seven others. In the run up to the assembly elections, Mr Modi campaigned extensively in Kashmir, promising to bring jobs and development to the region.
The BJP is, however, likely to get a clear majority in the 81-seat assembly in the eastern state of Jharkhand where elections were held at the same time. The BJP winning 25 seats is its best showing ever in the Muslim-majority state.
Early leads showed the party ahead in 36 seats, while its main rival Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was leading in 19 seats. "In Jammu and Kashmir we have improved our position significantly. We are now a relevant party in Jammu and Kashmir," BJP president Amit Shah told a news conference in Delhi on Tuesday.
"I believe that voters have endorsed Mr Modi's style of governance," he said.
Meanwhile, in the eastern state of Jharkhand where elections were held at the same time, the BJP is headed for a clear majority in the 81-seat assembly .
The party had won 33 seats at 18:00 (12:30GMT) and was leading in four others, while its main rival Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had won 18 and was leading in one seat.