As many as 55 percent voters exercised their franchise in the fourth phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on Sunday.

Stray incidents of violence were reported from some areas of 18 assembly segments in four districts that went to poll in the fourth phase.

The voting was spread over Baramulla, Udhampur, Budgam and Reasi districts.

Minutes after the start of polling in Baramulla district, militants exploded a hand grenade on Sopore- Sangrama road but there was no report of loss of life or damage to property.

Stupefied by the Congress victories in Delhi and Rajasthan assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh described the victory as "quite unexpected" and "shocking".

Speaking from the BJP headquarters, Rajnath Singh said, "In Delhi the results were quite unexpected and shocking; the Delhi results are surprising as we had expected a majority." Mr. Singh said that the BJP also considered the loss of Rajasthan "unexpected".

New Delhi - India's ruling Congress Party was leading Monday in three of the five state elections that are seen as a political barometer for the country's upcoming general elections against the backdrop of terrorist attacks and the economic slowdown.

Early results from the Election Commission showed the Congress Party on the verge of ousting the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the north-western state of Rajasthan, while it looked set to retain power in national capital New Delhi for a third five-year term.

Congress is set to hold reins for third consecutive term in Delhi legislative assembly. Thanking the people of Delhi for voting in her favour, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stated that the national capital voted for the party's development agenda.

Speaking from her residence where jubilant party supporters danced to drumbeats and burst firecrackers, Dixit said, "I congratulate the people of Delhi and many many thanks to them for their support and affection for the Congress."

"We went to the polls on the development ground with honesty and unity, and people have voted for that," said the 77-year-old leader said. 

Hong Kong  - A court ruling Monday set the stage for prison inmates to be able to vote in territory elections for the first time in Hong Kong's history.

Justice Andrew Cheung ruled that inmates have the constitutional right to register as voters and cast their ballots while serving sentences.

The case was brought by two men, Chan Kin-sum and Choi Chuen-sun, who are currently in jail, and legislator Leung Kwok-hung, who had previously served time for offences against public order.

Anti-incumbency factor, in Mizoram, has worked in the favour of the main opposition Congress, which has surged ahead of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), which has been in power for the last two terms.

According to the reports from Mizoram, Congress has won eight seats in the 40-member state assembly, and the former chief minister and state Congress chief Lal Thanhawla has won South Tuipui seat in Lunglei district.