The BJP ended up winning only one out of eight seats in Pir Panjal region despite careful management of delicate caste equations and religious dynamics.

According to Election Commission data, this was the party's worst-ever performance in the region since 1967.

As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, five MLAs would be nominated to the Assembly by the Lieutenant Governor.

“The information sought by you attracts of provision of Section 8(l)(e) and 8(l)(g) of the RTI Act, 2005 vide which there shall no obligation to give information to any citizen,” the home ministry said in its written response to the application.

“The question here is whether we are still a democracy. If so, do we believe in the Constitution and its articles, particularly the fundamental rights," the judge asked.

While the Union government has described the takeover as part of New Delhi’s financial benevolence, opposition parties say that it is an indication that J&K would continue to remain under the Union government’s control for a longer period.

This question has been triggered by a recent order of the Central Administrative Tribunal which observes that an LG is on par with the president and state governors under this article. But experts differ.

The Jammu and Kashmir government’s committee, tasked to prepare a mitigation plan to minimise the impact of potential environmental disruptions due to establishment of the firing range in Gurez, says it would affect the flora and fauna and may also impact tourism.

Until a month ago, it was assumed that the Udhampur constituency would be a cakewalk for the BJP. But with controversial leader Choudhary Lal Singh returning to the Congress and being given a ticket, the game has changed.

Jammu and Kashmir's administrative council headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha cleared a proposal to grant 10% reservation to Pahari ethnic tribe, Paddari tribe, Kolis and Gadda Brahmin communities.

Interestingly, post-delimitation, the Union government and the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) have been repeatedly saying that the Election Commission of India would decide on the timing of the Jammu and Kashmir polls.

Wangchuk, whose life inspired the character of Phunsukh Wangdu played by Aamir Khan in Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, is on day 7 of his 21-day hunger strike to demand special status and statehood for Ladakh.

The region's most influential Buddhist organisation and elected representatives have called it an affront to locals' sentiments.

However, the Centre is likely to assent to other demands over jobs, land and identity-related rights. Talks will resume after the winter session of parliament.

'It is another July 18 for us. I feel that they have killed our children a second time,' the father of one of the three slain men said.

'This is just a pressure tactic to blackmail him to join BJP. This case will vanish if he switches over to BJP,' Haridutt Shishu, general secretary of Lal Singh-led DSSP told The Wire.

The decision by the administration to 'celebrate' the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood to Union territory on October 31 is an 'insult' to the people and is akin to rubbing salt on the wounds, said political parties.

The Election Commission of India has come under criticism from political and human rights actors over the “suspension of democracy”.

The win is being seen as a shot in the arm for the INDIA alliance and a setback for the BJP.

With the BJP pushing for deferring the electoral exercise, the opposition claims it is scared of facing a defeat.