J&K Assembly dissolved after rival alliances stake claim to form govt

Srinagar, November 22: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik dissolved the State Assembly last evening after rival alliances staked claim to form the government. Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti staked claim saying that her party, which has 29 MLAs, has the backing of 15 lawmakers of National Conference and 12 of Congress.

 

Shortly after Mufti approached the Governor, Sajad Lone, leader of People's Conference, which has two seats, staked claim for government formation with the support of the BJP, has 25 seats, and more than 18 other elected members. In the 87-member Assembly, the majority mark is 44.

Later in a communique released by Raj Bhavan, the Governor cited four main reasons for dissolving the Assembly with immediate effect. These include extensive horse-trading and possible exchange of money and the impossibility of forming a stable government by parties with opposing political ideologies.

The Governor said the best course of action is to dissolve the Assembly so as to provide stability and security to the state and hold elections at an appropriate time so that a government with a clear mandate is formed.

The Governor's rule was imposed in the state on 19th June for a 6-month period following the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition government after BJP withdrew its support. The state assembly was kept in suspended animation so that political parties could explore the possibility of forming a new government.

The tenure of the Governor's rule ends on the 18th of next month which will be followed by President's rule. The state went to polls at the end of 2014 and the Assembly's tenure was till October 2020.

The State will now be placed under President's rule on December 20 after the six months tenure of Governor's rule comes to an end. Governor's rule was clamped in the state on June 19 for a 6 month period following the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition government after BJP withdrew support. The state assembly was also kept in suspended animation so that political parties could explore the possibility of formation of new government.