Jammu & Kashmir under Governor's rule for now

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir was on Saturday placed under Governor’s as alliance partners Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have delayed formation of new government necessitated by the demise of Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.

Governor N.N. Vohra has issued a notification in this regard, official sources in winter capital Jammu said.

A statement issued by Raj Bhavan in winter capital Jammu read “After receiving concurrence from the President of India, Governor N.N. Vohra issued a Proclamation today (Saturday) to impose Governor’s Rule in the State.”

The Raj Bhavan spokesman stated that consequent to the sudden passing away of Chief Minister Mr. Sayeed on January 7, the process to form government had commenced and intimations were still awaited about the respective positions of PDP and BJP. “Considering the likelihood of some more time being taken before government can be formed, with the approval of the President of India, Governor’s Rule has been imposed in the State with effect from  January 8, 2016, under Section 92(1) of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

This is the second time in past one year that the State has come under Governor's rule. Earlier, the state was placed under a brief spell of Governor’s rule on January 9, 2015 after the Assembly polls threw up a hung verdict.

This time too the Governor’s rule is expected to last only for few days as the PDP has said that its president Mehbooba Mufti, the consensus candidate for the chief minister’s post, is devastated by her father’s death and not ready to take the oath of office till his Rasm-e-Qul or the customary 4th day ceremony is over.

The Raj Bhavan spokesman had on Friday said that Governor Mr.  Vohra is in touch with the leadership of the coalition partners on the question of new government. “Besides being in touch with the leadership of the coalition partners, the Governor has also addressed letters by fax to Ms Mehbooba Mufti, president PDP and Shri Sat Paul Sharma, president BJP, to urgently inform him about their respective positions regarding formation of the new government,” the spokesman said.

Allies PDP and BJP on Saturday dismissed speculation about any differences or new conditions between them over formation of new government. "There are certainly no conditions from our side and there was no meeting of our leaders on government formation,” BJP state president Sat Paul Sharma said. He added, “We respect the right of the bereaved family of Mufti Sahib to mourn his death."

Mr. Sharma said that he had received a letter from the Governor on government formation but the party will take a decision on it only after Sayeed's fourth day ceremony is observed on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is arriving here on Sunday to visit the bereaved family to offer her condolences. Congress has clarified that her visit has nothing to do with the prevailing political situation in the State.