Kashmir adrift. Governor's rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after polls left a hung assembly and political parties failed to cobble together a coalition government.
Governor N.N. Vohra imposed the six-month Governor’s rule under Section 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, officials said.
“After receiving concurrence from the President, under section 92 (5) of the Jammu and Kashmir constitution, Vohra issued a proclamation under Section 92 (1) of the constitution to impose Governor’s rule in the state,” a Raj Bhavan release here said Friday.
After the polls concluded in November and December 2014 in the state, and declaration of results Dec 23 2014, outgoing chief minister Omar Abdullah had tendered his resignation on Dec 24, 2014, it said.
“While accepting his resignation, Omar Abdullah had been requested to continue in office till “alternative arrangements are made”, it said.
The governor held consultations during the past two weeks with the leaders of Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party, the two parties which had secured the largest and the second largest number of seats in the state assembly, respectively.
“However, no party or group of parties has so far staked claim to form the next government in the state,” it said.
“On Jan 7, 2015, Omar Abdullah informed the governor that he had decided to step down as the caretaker chief minister of the state with immediate effect.”
“With the approval of the president, the governor’ s rule has been imposed in the state with effect from Jan 8, 2015.”
Earlier, Governor N.N. Vohra summoned Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey ahead of the widely expected Raj Bhavan proclamation, the sources said.
Vohra has met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the situation in the state after Omar Abdullah expressed his inability to continue as the caretaker chief minister.
Once the governor issued the proclamation, the assembly would be kept in suspended animation to give more time to the political parties to work out a coalition to rule the country’s only Muslim-majority state.
If no government is formed within six months of Governor’s rule, Vohra is empowered to recommend imposition of President’s Rule. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state that has a constitution of its own which is applicable concomitantly with the Indian constitution. (IANS)