Jammu, July 11 : Governor’s Rule has been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad submitted his resignation without facing floor test in the Assembly.

Azad resigned on Monday following the Amarnath land transfer row.

Earlier, in his emotionally charged speech in the Assembly, he had stated, “I am satisfied with my work. The motive I came with, I have largely achieved it. I don''''t care who will be the Chief Minister. After spending life in serving the nation and party, I wanted to serve the people of my state. I have worked at a stretch for 20 hours.”

Jammu, July 9 : A fresh batch of 870 pilgrims left for the Amarnath yatra from the base camp of Bhagwati Nagar early this morning.

Jammu, July 8: A fresh batch of 885 pilgrims left for the Amarnath yatra from the base camp of Bhagwati Nagar early this morning.

According to official sources, the devotees, including 604 men, 167 women, 13 children and 101 sadhus left. They were escorted by a group of CRPF personnel.

With Tuesday''s batch, as many as 43,643 pilgrims have left the shrine. The first batch left on June 17. The pilgrimage ends on August 16.

Security forces have been put on a high alert along the entire route of the pilgrimage to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

Srinagar, July 8 : Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir don''t want the state elections to be advanced despite the early exit of the Congress government from office after the People''s Democratic Party (PDP) withdrew support to it over a controversial land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

"The government had to resign, but I am hopeful about the present governor (N. N. Vohra), who was part of the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir. After taking office, he said that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir should handle the Amarnath Yatra. He also revoked the land order. He will do his best to see the situation remains peaceful till elections take place in the state, that is towards the end of October," said Mehbooba Mufti, PDP President.

New Delhi - Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of India's Jammu and Kashmir state quit on Monday after a coalition partner withdrew support to his minority government over a controversy over transferring land to a Hindu shrine.

Azad submitted his resignation to the state governor after a week of protests over the land transfer decision which was later cancelled by the government.

Kashmiri Muslims alleged the decision to transfer 99 acres of government land to the Amarnath shrine board was aimed at settling Hindus in India's only Muslim majority state.

Meanwhile, Kashmiri Hindus, based in southern Jammu district, have been protesting against the government's decision to cancel its order.

Jammu, July 7 : Jammu and Kashmir government today fell after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad tendered his resignation ahead of vote of confidence on the floor of the State Assembly, as he didn''t have the requisite numbers in the Assembly.

''''I do not wish to put my friends in trouble whose heart is somewhere else and their party whip is somewhere else,'''' Azad said before driving to Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation.

If the PDP had not issued a whip to its members there was a chance of some members supporting the government. But after the PDP issued a whip it became unlikely. Ghulam Nabi Azad had little alternative, but to resign.