CNN.com updated 5:00 p.m. EST, Sun December 28, 2008
Pro-India parties win majority in Kashmir elections
>From Mukhtar Ahmad
CNN
SRINAGAR, Indian-administered Kashmir (CNN) -- Pro-India parties have won enough seats in the state assembly to form a ruling alliance in Indian-administered Kashmir, according to tallies announced Sunday.
The National Conference party and the Congress party together won 45 seats, one more than is needed for a simple majority in the 87-seat state assembly.
The two parties have started negotiations for an alliance so they can take power. The National Conference party won 28 seats, and Congress won 17.
"We are ready to align with the Congress party to form the next government," said Omar Abdullah, president of National Conference.
The seven-phased elections began in November, four months after India took direct control after the fall of a coalition government in the state. The elections ended last week, and vote-counting finished Sunday.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both, has been wracked by an 18-year separatist campaign that authorities say has left at least 43,000 dead.
Before the elections, violent protests were conducted by anti-Indian groups, fearful state elections would firm up Indian control of the area, and by Indian nationalists, fearful that separatist groups would gain control.
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