Mehbooba Mufti

We can expect fresh elections in some time because none of the parties in the fray have the requisite numbers to form a government.

Hours after imposition of Governor’s Rule in J&K, Ram Madhav said the decision to end the alliance was not “opportunistic”

Mehbooba maintained that Jammu and Kashmir was not an enemy territory as being perceived by few. "We had always said muscular security policy will not work in J-K, reconciliation is key," she said.

Live updates as the BJP has pulled out of the alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was vacated by Mehbooba Mufti in June 2016 after she was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in April 2016. The seat has been vacant since then.

Mehbooba Mufti said, "Like Mehboob Beigh sahib here said, North Korea and South Korea have become friends after 70 years for the sake of people. But here shelling is still going on our borders."

While the Centre announced unilateral ceasefire for the holy month of Ramadhan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently said the Centre was ready to talk to separatists in the valley if they are willing for a dialogue

The chief minister said having peace on the borders was the first essential step to “a larger understanding” and expressed hope that it would sustain.

Mufti, who met victims of cross-border firing in the Arnia and R S Pura sectors of Jammu district today, said the people of the state had gone through "very tough times" in the past and wanted to live a peaceful life.

Mehbooba Mufti had earlier proposed that the Centre should consider a unilateral ceasefire in the state starting from Ramzan in mid-May until the completion of the Amarnath yatra in August.

The BJP appeared headed for a simple majority in the Karnataka Assembly, with its candidates leading in 115 constituencies, leaving the ruling Congress way behind, according to the latest trends available for 220 of the state's 222 seats where polling was held.

The former Union home minister said that whatever the PDP and other parties may say, the BJP will never allow them to explore ways to bring peace in the northern state.

This ceasefire seems viable since Pakistan has been dropping hints of fresh engagement with India.

Eight ministers were inducted into the Jammu and Kashmir government, out of which seven are new

On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti accepted the resignations of Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga, who had participated in a rally supporting the accused in the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old Muslim girl in Kathua.

During the 20-minute meeting, the chief minister briefed the Union home minister on the security situation in the Valley as well as along the border with Pakistan, which has been witnessing heavy cross- border firing and continuous attempts of infiltration by militants.

A day after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called for dialogue with Pakistan to end the bloodshed in the state, the BJP today said talks were not suitable at a time when the neighbouring country was "supporting" militant attacks.

CM Mufti said the Army's footprint in the valley had increased due to the deteriorating security situation.

Two civilians were killed in army firing on stone-pelting protesters in Shopian on January 27.

During the meeting, Sharma briefed the chief minister about his consultations with a cross section of society during his present stay in the state, he said.