Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was one of the first voters to exercise his right during the final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls on Wednesday. He said that the elections were "historic".

Accompanied by his wife, Shamima Azad, the former CM said, "These polls are historic as compared to 1996 and 2002 ones as the separatist's call for poll boycott has been rejected and people are no longer getting carried away by hollow slogans of separatists or those parties trying to create a divide."

Jammu, Dec 22: Congress President Sonia Gandhi has warned neighbouring countries against encouraging terrorism.

She was addressing an election rally in Dableer village near Jammu ahead of the final seventh phase of the assembly elections.

Sonia said India''s desire for peace should not be taken as a sign of weakness.

Agartala, Dec. 17 : A dawn-to-dusk strike in Tripura, called by the Congress supported Youth Congress and Seva Dal demanding arrest of two Leftist Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Sahid Choudhury and Partha Das during a protest rally, paralyzed normal life in the Left-ruled state Wednesday.

Most markets, shops and business establishments remained closed in this northeastern state while roads wore a deserted look.

Kochi, Dec 16 : Congress Party President will inaugurate a party delegates meet at the three-day Kerala State Conference here today.

About 5000 party workers and elected members of various local bodies including Non-resident Kerala (NRI) representatives are expected to attend the meet.

The six resolutions moved at the party state executive will be discussed during the meet.

Later, UPA Chairperson is scheduled to attend a function organised to mark the third death anniversary of former Union Minister P M Sayeed in Lakshadweep.

New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Rajender Nagar seat in the Delhi Assembly elections has been won by Ramakant Goswami of the Congress by over 6000 votes.

Goswami defeated his nearest BJP rival Asha Yogi, the widow of late leader Puran Chand Yogi

With this, the strength of Congress in Delhi Assembly has gone to 43.

Polls for the Rajendra Nagar seat were held on December 13, as they were countermanded earlier due to the death of Yogi.

Yogi, 73, was a three-time BJP legislator from Rajinder Nagar. He was seeking re-election for the third time from the seat.

K