INDIA Bloc Leading In J&K's 1st National Polls After Special Status Scrapped

The Opposition bloc INDIA is leading in Jammu and Kashmir in the first Lok Sabha election since special status was scrapped from the erstwhile state.

The INDIA bloc is leading in 4 of 5 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, early leads show. The NDA has got 1 seat, the trends show.

Among the two former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah was leading, and Mehbooba Mufti was trailing in their constituencies.

Early leads show the National Conference's (NC) Omar Abdullah was leading over his rival Sajad Gani Lone of the J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency.

"... I have faith that JKNC will win all three seats. Exit poll predictions will be proven wrong. I hope exit polls prove to be right for J&K and wrong for the rest of the country," Mr Abdullah told news agency ANI.

In the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, former Chief Minister and chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti was trailing NC candidate, Mian Altaf Ahmad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he was confident that "the people of India have voted in record numbers" to re-elect his government, a decade after he first became Prime Minister. PM Modi's opponents have struggled to counter the campaign juggernaut of his BJP, and have been hamstrung by infighting and what they say are politically motivated criminal cases aimed at hobbling challengers.

The Election Commission on Monday had said it will start the process of holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir very soon. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar had said the EC was very enthused by the voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir during the Lok Sabha elections, which showed the eagerness of the people to participate in the democratic process.

"We will very soon start the process of assembly elections in J&K. We are very enthused. It is one of the most satisfying moments," the CEC said.