Counting begins in Kashmir elections

Counting of votes has begun in Indian administered Kashmir, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP is trying to win power for the first time.

Exit polls, predict that the regional People's Democratic Party will emerge the single largest party.

A party needs forty four seats in the eighty seven member state assembly to form the government.

The disputed Kashmir region is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan and the rivals have fought two wars over it.

Thousands of soldiers were deployed in and around polling stations during the five-phase voting which began last month and ended on Saturday.

About 65% of the more than one million eligible voters cast their ballots

BBC