Jammu And Kashmir Now Under Governor’s Rule As BJP Snaps Alliance With PDP

Less than 24 hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled out of the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), leaving the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in a minority, President Ram Nath Kovind approved the imposition of Governor’s rule in the state with immediate effect, news agency ANI reported.

A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said that after concluding consultations with all the major political parties in J&K, Governor N N Vohra forwarded his report for imposition of Governor’s rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of J&K. Following the BJP’s decision to withdraw from the government, Mufti submitted her resignation to the Governor. He has, however, asked Mufti to continue until further orders are passed.

Mufti was quoted as saying that the PDP had not allied with the BJP for power, adding that her party had always maintained that a ‘muscular security policy’ will not work in the state and reconciliation was the key.

Earlier yesterday (19 June), citing examples of the growing acts of ‘terrorism, violence and radicalisation’ in the state over the past few years, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said that the party was left with no other option, but to discontinue its alliance with the PDP.

The BJP has 25 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, while the PDP has 28. This will be the fourth time in the last ten years that a Governor’s rule is imposed in the state.