SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday appeared hurtling towards a spell of governor’s rule with incumbent N N Vohra sending a report to the Centre on the political impasse after Omar Abdullah asked him to relieve him as caretaker chief minister.
The report to the President is understood to be containing two or three suggestions including the option of a spell of governor’s rule in the wake of no party being in a position to cobble up numbers required to form a government after the highly-fractured verdict in the assembly elections, sources said.
The governor’s report comes a day after Omar met him in Delhi last night soon after his return from London after a 12-day visit to his ailing parents and asked him to relieve him as caretaker chief minister.
Omar told him that 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.
In a series of tweets, Omar wrote that he had met States Governor, NN Vohra, on Wednesday late night. He said he asked Vohra to relieve him as caretaker CM of the State.
Omar met Vohra after his return from London where he had gone to meet his parents.
The new dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir is required to be formed ahead of January 19 when the term of the current Assembly expires.
While pitching for full time administrator, Omar wrote: Given the situation on the border with 10,000 displaced, the hardships of winter & the continuing need for relief for flood affected. I believe the interests of the state will only be served by a full time administrator & not a caretaker with no mandate to govern (sic).
Following the hung Assembly verdict on December 23, Omar was asked to continue by Governor till the formation of new government.
Omar, who is working president of National Conference as well, faced defeat in the polls and got only 15 seats. While as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got 25 seats.
Soon after the results were declared, the BJP and PDP got into informal talks over the government formation but even after 17 days, both the parties failed to form government.
Though, the National Conference and Congress offered support to PDP over government formation, but the PDP, it seemed, wasnt interested.
However, as the deadlock over the government formation continued, the Omar said in another tweet: I had assumed govt formation would be a matter of a week or 10 (sic). Today we seem even further away from that goal than we were 10 days ago.
Omar said that if Governor Rule is imposed in the State, it is for PDP to explain to people. It is now for the @jkpdp to explain to the people that with 28 MLAs & offers of support from 2 other parties why the state has central rule, the NC working president tweeted.
The new Government is required to be constituted before January 19 when the term of the current Assembly expires failing which Governors rule looks inevitable. Mr. Omars decision means such a rule may have to be imposed earlier.
The Governor, according to the sources, will now be submitting a report to the President in which he may recommend a spell of Governors rule to avert a Constitutional breakdown.
Meanwhile reacting to the development Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Omar Abdullahs decision to step down as the caretaker chief minister was childish.
It is Omar Abdullah who is forcing the state into the Governors rule, PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said, adding that there is still time upto 19 January.
While the PDP is trying to ensure a stable and an effective government in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar has suddenly decided to force the hands of the Governor. But Omar must know that by his pranks, he cannot dictate terms to PDP. Our effort has been to constitute a government that can serve the best interests of the state and as a result of the deeply fractured verdict, it would obviously take some time, he said.
Akhar said that PDP will continue to make efforts irrespective of the Omars tweet. We are accountable to our conscience and to the people of the state.
