Srinagar, June 19 (KNB): In a sensational political development Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdraw its support to the coalition government partner People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The ‘unholy’ alliance was formed on 1st March 2015 led by Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. On January 2016, following the demise of Mufti her daughter Mehbooba Mufti took charge of the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav made the surprise announcement after the party high command summoned its Jammu and Kashmir ministers for emergency consultations in New Delhi. A few hours later, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation to Governor N N Vohra amid a swirl of political activity in Srinagar and New Delhi.
Some reports had earlier claimed that suspension of operations along the border area had miffed the PDP leadership.
The December 2014 assembly election, which recorded one of the highest voter turnouts in Jammu and Kashmir, led to PDP emerging as the single largest party with 28 seats, BJP 25, National Conference 15 and Congress 12.
“I am not shocked. We didn’t do this alliance for power. This alliance had a bigger motive- unilateral ceasefire, PM’s visit to Pakistan, withdrawal of cases against 11,000 youth are some of the objectives we achieved,” said Mehbooba Mufti while addressing a presser here at his residence.
Earlier, immediately after the press conference of Ram Madhav, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said here that the BJP had committed a “Himalayan blunder” by forming a government with the PDP.
Commenting on the development, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said the National Conference would neither seek support, nor offer support to any political party in the State in light of BJP withdrawing support from the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP Government in J&K.
Addressing a Press Conference in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said the current situation in the State was a collective failure of the Central and the State Government and that restoration of peace and stability in the State was the foremost concern of the National Conference.
Meanwhile, Governor N.N. Vohra after concluding his consultations with all the major Political Parties in J&K Governor Vohra has forwarded his Report to the President of India for imposition of Governor’s Rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
“In case of failure of constitutional machinery in any other state of India, the President’s Rule is imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution. But in case of J&K, as per Section 92 of state Constitution, the Governor’s Rule can be imposed for a period of six months in the state, said Ajaz Ahmad War, a political analyst and Journalist while talking with Kashmir News Bureau.
Reports said, Tuesday afternoon Governor N.N. Vohra received a letter by fax, jointly signed by Ravinder Raina and Kavinder Gupta, State BJP President and Leader, BJP Legislature Party, respectively, to withdraw BJP’s support to the Coalition Government. Thereafter, Mufti, Chief Minister, tendered her resignation and the Governor has asked her to continue in office till alternative arrangements are made.
Governor spoke to Kavinder Gupta and Mehbooba Mufti to ascertain whether their respective Political Parties intended to explore alternative alliances to form the Government of the State and was informed in the negative by both the leaders.
Governor also spoke to G.A. Mir, President J&K Congress Party, who informed that his Party did not have the numerical strength to form Government on its own or in an alliance.
Later, Governor had a meeting with Omar Abdullah, Vice President, National Conference, who stated that there was no alternative to Governor’s Rule and elections.
(KNB)
