Prez Kovind gives nod to Governor`s rule in Jammu and Kashmir

New Delhi, June 20: President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday gave his nod to the imposition of governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled out itself from an alliance with the People Democratic Party's (PDP) in the state government.

 

The decision comes after Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra forwarded his report to President Ram Nath Kovind for the imposition of Governor's rule in the valley. The report was sent to the President after Vohra held consultations with Mehbooba, BJP state chief Ravinder Raina, NC vice president Omar Abdullah and Congress state president G A Mir.

An official spokesperson said, "The governor received a letter by fax, jointly signed by Ravinder Raina and Kavinder Gupta, state BJP president and leader of BJP Legislature Party respectively, about withdrawing BJP's support to the coalition government."

The spokesperson further said that CM Mehbooba Mufti tendered her resignation thereafter but the governor N N Vohra asked her to continue in office till alternative arrangements are made. "The governor spoke to Kavinder Gupta and Mehbooba Mufti to ascertain whether their respective parties intended to explore alternative alliances to form a government in the state and was informed in the negative by both the leaders," the spokesperson added.

N N Vohra also spoke to Congress state president G A Mir, who informed him that his party did not have the numerical strength to form a government on its own or in an alliance. Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra also had a meeting with Omar, who said that there was no alternative to governor's rule and elections.

After having consultations with all the major political parties, Governor Vohra forwarded his report to the President for the imposition of governor's rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. Seeking the report from N N Vohra, President Ram Nath Kovind approved the imposition of governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

On Tuesday, BJP pulled itself out from Jammu and Kashmir government alliance after repeated attacks on forces and civilians along with the soft approach of PDP towards terrorism. An hour after the unprecedented move of BJP, CM Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation to the Governor N N Vohra.