Kathua, Jammu: BJP national president J P Nadda on Friday said that people have voted fearlessly in the first two phases of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, adding those who once held guns in their hands are now using ballots to express themselves, marking a victory for Indian democracy.

Union Minister JP Nadda refuted National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's accusations regarding low voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir's assembly elections. Nadda claimed that the turnout percentages were significantly higher than previous elections.

While foreign media were denied access, over a dozen foreign diplomats from New Delhi visited polling stations in the Srinagar and Budgam districts.

Jammu: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday issued a stern warning to Pakistan-backed terrorists, asserting that any attempt to incite violence in the country would lead to their elimination.

As Jammu and Kashmir enters the second phase of critical assembly elections, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urge voters to remember the previous decade's betrayals and to vote for a positive change.

Eight constituencies in the Jammu region and 16 from the Kashmir Valley voted on the first phase of assembly elections. Two more rounds of voting remain.

Top BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Amit Shah, Smriti Irani, and JP Nadda, are set to campaign in Jammu's key Hindu-majority districts starting Thursday.

Issuing the warning to the neighbouring country at an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, Adityanath said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is already prepared to merge with India. "Even Pakistan-backed terrorists know the price Pakistan will have to pay for supporting terrorism.