Srinagar

Governor’s rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir today with PDP, which emerged as the single-largest party, and BJP failing to cobble up the required number to form the government, triggering a blame game among political parties.

The decision came a day after Governor N N Vohra submited his report to President Pranab Mukherjee, stating that Omar Abdullah had requested to be relieved of the post of being a caretaker Chief Minister.

The Governor’s report contained some suggestions including the option of a spell of Governor’s rule in the wake of no party getting the number required to form a government after the highly-fractured verdict in the Assembly elections, official sources said here.

After the election results were out on December 23, neither PDP which emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats nor BJP with 25 could get the magic figure of 44 to stake claim to form a government. NC has 15 MLAs while the Congress 12.

A blame game erupted today with Omar squarely blaming PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for bringing the state under Governor’s rule and accusing him of continuing the deadlock over government formation to get a full six-year term as Chief Minister.

PDP hit back at Omar, saying there was time till January 19 to form the government and he had forced the present situation on the state.

In the midst of this spat, BJP President Amit Shah said in Vijayawada that his party was in talks with both the PDP and the NC to form the next government in the state. “Our talks are going on with the two parties in Kashmir…We are trying to form a BJP government in the state,” he said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had last night forwarded the Governor’s report to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Governor’s rule was imposed in the state under Section 92 of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution which allows the Governor to proclaim it in case of failure of Constitutional machinery in the state.

President Pranab Mukherjee is understood to have given his concurrence for Governor’s rule which has been imposed in the state for the sixth time since 1977.

Omar had said the state needed a full-time administrator to deal with the situation along the border with Pakistan and providing relief to flood-affected people in the Kashmir Valley.

He was asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister on December 24 after his resignation in the wake of defeat of his party..

An official statement issued this evening in Jammu said Governor’s rule has been imposed in the state under Section 92(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution under which this can be done by issuing a proclaimation after the Governor is satisfied about the failure of constitutional machinery in the state.

It said that in the past two weeks the Governor held consultations with the leadership of PDP and BJP. However, no party or group of parties has so far staked claim to form the next government in the state.

After Omar requested for being relieved as caretaker CM, the Governor was of the view that since none of the political party or parties have so far staked their claim to form the next government, the governance of the State cannot be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the State, the statement said.

The new Government is required to be constituted before January 19 when the term of the current Assembly expires.

Omar’s decision may have also hastened the Governor’s decision to send a report to the Home Ministry.

The state is witnessing such a stalemate for the second time in 12 years. A similar situation had arisen when Farooq Abdullah had asked the then Governor G C Saxena to relieve him of being a caretaker Chief Minister as PDP and Congress were taking a lot of time in cobbling up numbers to form the government.

Despite intervention by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Abdullah refused to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister and Governor’s rule had to be imposed for a fortnight from October 18, 2002.

“It’s been months since the state had a full fledged administration and the people can’t wait for Mufti Sayeed to negotiate his six-year term,” Omar tweeted after the state was put under Governor’s rule. .

Omar, who is the Working President of National Conference, said restoration and rehabilitation in the wake of the floods was suffering as accountable administration was absent besides there was a humanitarian problem on the border.

“Yet the @jkpdp would like the limbo to continue as people suffer only so the Mufti can force a 6 yr term as CM from the BJP,” he tweeted.

He termed as “amazing” PDP’s contention that NC’s offer of support to in in government formation was non-serious.

“I’m sorry after an election with such a good turnout we have a situation of Governor’s rule but as I’ve maintained the onus lies with “JKPDP,” he said.

PDP maintained that it was in talks with various political parties for formation of a stable government in the state.

“We are in touch with different parties as informal channels are open with all parties,” party spokesman Naeem Akhtar said in Srinagar.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to form a stable government soon,” he said, indicating that Governor’s rule may last only for a brief period.

Asked if fresh election in the state was a possibility, Akhtar said, “we will discuss the situation if it comes to that”.

In Delhi, BJP said it was an “evolving” situation in J-K and that Governor’s rule was imposed owing to constitutional limitation of time and reluctance of Omar to continue as caretaker CM.

“It is an evolving situation”, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said in response to questions from reporters.

NC and PDP in blame game over Guv rule in J-K; evolving sitn:BJP

The National Conference and rival Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) were today locked in a blame game over Jammu and Kashmir being brought under Governor’s rule following the prolonged stalemate over formation of a government in the state.

The BJP on its part said the turn of events was an “evolving” situation and that the party was in talks with both PDP and NC for forming a government.

NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while blaming PDP for the development accused its patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed of continuing the deadlock in a bid to get a full six-year term as chief minister.

“It’s been months since the state had a full fledged administration and the people can’t wait for Mufti Sayeed to negotiate his six-year term,” Omar tweeted shortly after the state was put under Governor’s rule.

Omar, the NC’s Working President, said restoration and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the floods in the state was suffering as accountable administration was absent besides a humanitarian problem on the border.

“Yet the @jkpdp would like the limbo to continue as people suffer only so the Mufti can force a 6 yr term as CM from the BJP,” he said.

Omar had asked the Governor to relieve him as a caretaker Chief Minister on Wednesday as he believed that a full-fledged administration was required to help the people of the state.

He termed as “amazing” PDP’s contention that NC’s offer of support to in in government formation was non-serious.

“For the @jkpdp to claim that my offer to them was a non-serious one is amazing. They know who the intermediary was so they should ask him,” Omar said. The NC had offered support to the PDP, which has 28 MLAs in the 87-member state Assembly.

Election results were announced on December 23.

“I’m sorry after an election with such a good turnout we have a situation of Governor’s rule but as I’ve maintained the onus lies with JKPDP,” he said.

While BJP and PDP have claimed that back channel talks were on, there is no clarity on the progress made in these parleys as both parties have maintained a wait-and-watch approach.

The PDP blamed Omar for forcing Governor’s rule.

“We had time till January 19 to form a government but the situation has been forced (on the state) by Omar,” PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said.

Akhtar said his PDP was in talks with various political parties for formation of a stable government.

“We could have forged an alliance …We are in touch with different parties as informal channels are open with all parties,” he said.

The PDP spokesman said the party will continue its efforts for formation of a stable government in the state.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to form a stable government soon,” he added.

BJP President Amit Shah said talks are in progress with both the PDP and NC over government formation. BJP with 25 seats was in the second spot.

“Our talks are going on with the two parties in Kashmir.

We will let you know once there is a development. We are trying to form a BJP government in the state,” Shah told reporters in Vijaywada.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the development is an “evolving situation”.

Political parties including CPI(M) and Congress termed imposition of Governor’s rule as “disappointing” saying large voter turnout and mandate to the parties by the people should have been honoured.

“It was highly disappointing situation. The people, who has voted in such a large numbers. Those who were given mandate by the people to form the government did not succeed”, CPI(M) State Secretary M Y Tarigami said today.

He termed it as a set back to the political process in Jammu and Kashmir.

Senior Congress leader and former minister G S Charak said it was disappointing that the largest party (PDP) was not able to form the government, “resulting in Governor’s rule”.

He said PDP has options to form the government keeping in view the interest of three regions.

“There was no other option available to impose governor’s rule if the the parties who were given mandate did not form the government”, Charak said.

Meanwhile, PDP hit out at NC Chief Omar Abdullah for “acting in childish manner” resulting in Governor’s rule.

PDP spokesman Nayeem Akhtar said “It is irresponsible behaviour. Omar and NC is thinking that they have done something big by forcing PDP to take a hasty decision, I will tell them they are wrong. We are going to stay here and when time comes we will form the government in J&K”.

Expressing disappointment over the development, he said this has not happened for the first time in J&K, it was in 2002, Farooq Abdullah did the same thing as Omar did today by refusing to be caretaker CM. But later we formed Government.

Nayeem said our option are open with everybody including BJP to form an alliance government for credible and durable governance.

NC spokesperson Junaid Mattoo said that imposition of Governor’s rule was the least desirable option than democratic set.

He added that NC had already expressed its full support to PDP, which is single largest in J&K, to form the government.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today welcomed imposition of the governor’s rule in the state.

JKNPP patron, Prof Bhim Singh welcomed the imposition of Governor Rule saying it was imposed under Section 92 of J&K Constitution as Constitution of India nor its provisions were applicable in the state of J&K.

Prof Singh also demanded immediate cancellation of the Assembly election results saying fresh polls in accordance with Supreme Court order may be held in the interest of democracy and rule of law.
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