Friday, October 11, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Voters reject NC; Omar humbled

Omar Abdullah Mehbooba Mufti Split mandate: NC gets 28 seats, Cong — 20, PDP — 16 Srinagar, October 10 After 27 years, the National Conference was voted out of power in Jammu and Kashmir with a split mandate resulting in a hung Assembly and giving the Congress-PDP the chance of forming a coalition government. In video: National Conference president Omar Abdullah loses from Ganderbal constituency. (28k, 56k) Omar to quit as minister

Congress-PDP govt likely
National Conference not to stake claim
Srinagar, October 10
Having routed the rule of the Sheikh dynasty, a coalition government of the Congress and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party is likely to be installed in Jammu and Kashmir next week.
In video: Jammu and Kashmir state Congress president Ghulam Nabi Azad steers the party to power. (28k, 56k)

SPECIAL EDITORIAL

The message in the verdict Hari Jaisingh ALTHOUGH the verdict of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the assembly poll has not been decisive in terms of a single-party formation of government, its message is sharp, candid and truthfully transparent. It symbolises the most shining example of the democratic spirit of the free world.

It is celebration time
IT is 3 p.m. And by now the message is clear: Farooq Abdullah’s NC has fared badly. The biggest jolt is Omar Abdullah’s defeat. And as one moves around Srinagar faces of the Kashmiris are alight with smiles — right from auto-drivers to PCO-operators to the pedestrian, who is walking about with added enthusiasm and in a mood to celebrate.

6 killed in Pak poll violence
Islamabad, October 10
Six persons were killed in poll related violence today in Pakistan as the country went for its first parliamentary elections ostensibly meant to return power to civilians after three years of military rule of General Pervez Musharraf.

Siddique is OSD (Law and Order)
Chandigarh, October 10
In a significant development, the Punjab Government tonight decided to redesignate Dr A. A. Siddique, Additional Director-General of Police, as Officer on Special Duty and Order) by putting the entire law and order machinery of the state under his command.

Nepalese King asked to form interim govt
Kathmandu, October 10
With the King’s deadline for naming a new Prime Minister well past, a major political party today urged the monarch to form an interim government and return all executive powers to the new administration.

India send Pak packing Busan, October 10 For once India were not bogged down by pressure as they scored a memorable 4-3 “golden jubilee” victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-voltage semifinal of men’s hockey to keep themselves on course for a gold medal encore in the Asian Games here today. India’s Daljit Singh (left) celebrates with Gagan Ajit Singh after scoring the third goal against Pakistan during the men’s hockey semifinals match at the 14th Asian Games in Busan on Thursday. — Reuters photo