High security in Kashmir, Jharkhand

Polling officers inspect Electronic Voting Machines before they leave for their respective polling stations on the eve of Assambly elections in Doda on Monday.

Amid tight security, the first phase of polls in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand State began at 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Over a million registered voters will decide the fate of 123 candidates across fifteen constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir while thirteen constituencies go to polls in the tribal dominated Jharkhand.

>Jharkhand Assembly polls: Alert against Maoist threat Altogether, 199 candidates are in the fray and 35,425 security personnel have been deployed at 3,900 polling booths in the constituencies. >Read More...

>We will have smooth and fair elections in J&K: IG Thousands of armed personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force have been deployed to ensure incident-free elections in the 15 constituencies that go to polls. >Read More...

>Candidate from Asur wants to do his bit for his tribe Vimal, 29, has managed to save Rs. 40,000 by selling off a piece of his agricultural land to contest the poll. >Read More...

>Sonia slams BJP, promises development in Jharkhand Ms. Gandhi promised to set things right and bring development if voted to power. >Read More...

>Will fulfil Vajpayee’s dream: Modi India and Pakistan are among the five countries that are vying to host a new SAARC centre that would be created by merging four regional centres. >Read More...

>Contradicting stand on Article 370 will sink BJP’s boat in J&K: Omar Abdullah With Prime Minister Narendra Modi skirting any statement on Article 370, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said BJP is shying away from committing on this contentious issue and is instead keeping its “feet in two boats” in Jammu and Kashmir which normally ends up “sinking”. >Read More...

>A moment of possibility in Jammu and Kashmir Peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir are necessary for the resolution process, but only a part of it. The presence of justice, and a greater push to bring into the mainstream those who have been alienated, must be the next step. >Read More...

>Changing the script Held over the wreckage of the devastating floods that submerged the valley around two months ago, the elections, since their announcement, drowned the flood relief and rehabilitation efforts, and now Jammu and Kashmir is overflowing with political rallies and banners, slogans and political songs and the possibilities that the election results could throw up. >Read More...

>"Hope Delhi will take Vajpayee line on Kashmir" Mehbooba Mufti speaks to The Hindu on the dangers of the BJP’s divisive campaign and the need for any party in Jammu and Kashmir to work with New Delhi for a resolution in the State. >Read More...