New Delhi: Seventeen days after the Assembly polls delivered a highly fractured mandate in Jammu & Kashmir, the Centre on Friday imposed governor’s rule in the state due to the inability of political parties to cobble up numbers to form a government.

The BJP, which till 48-hours ago was hopeful of pulling off a coalition with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but could not due to threats from separatists, believes that governor’s rule is merely an “evolving situation” since talks are still on for forming their first government in the Muslim-majority state.

The Home Ministry has given its consent on Governor N N Vohra’s report suggesting among others things that governor’s rule could be imposed to break the political deadlock.
Time factor

However, there is time till January 19, when term of the Assembly expires, to form a government.

The Home Ministry also apprised the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday before taking the call on not giving more time to parties to form a government as the BJP wanted to send a message that they cannot be discounted in the power sharing exercise.

It is learnt that President Pranab Mukherjee has given his nod for invoking governor’s rule under Section 92 of the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution which empowers the governor to proclaim it in case of failure of Constitutional machinery in the state. The governor’s rule will be valid for six months.

The political situation had precipitated in the state after caretaker chief minister Omar Abdullah met Vohra in the national capital on Thursday requesting him to be absolved of the responsibility.

In 2002, then chief minister Farooq Abdullah, too, had requested the then governor G C Saxena that he be relieved from the post of caretaker chief minister since the Congress and PDP had failed to form a coalition.

At a time when the PDP and National Conference are blaming each other for the political mess, Communications Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that “it is an evolving situation” in J&K. He was of the view that due to time constraint and Omar’s unwillingness to continue in office, governor’s rule was imposed.

“There is a constitutional limitation of time (January 19) and Omar’s reluctance to continue as caretaker chief minister… you cannot completely close down governance,” Prasad said. He reiterated the BJP’s stand that the party wants a stable government in J&K and discussions are going on with the stakeholders.