Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Jan 9: Governor N N Vohra tonight issued a proclamation imposing Governor’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir with effect from yesterday pending formation of new Government in the State amid indications that PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was tipped to be new Chief Minister of the State, was in no hurry to form new Government.
“After receiving concurrence from President Pranab Mukherjee, Governor NN Vohra tonight issued a proclamation to impose Governor’s Rule in the State,” official sources told the Excelsior.
The Governor’s Rule has been imposed with effect from January 8 (yesterday) when the State had plunged into the Constitutional crisis, as reported exclusively by the Excelsior, due to delay in imposition of the Governor’s Rule, which had rendered the State headless.
An official handout said consequent to the sudden death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7, the process to form the Government had commenced and intimations were still awaited about respective positions of PDP and BJP.
“Considering the likelihood of some more time being taken before Government can be formed, the Governor’s Rule has been imposed in the State with effect from January 8, 2016 under Section 92 (1) of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, the handout, issued by the Raj Bhavan, said.
It added that the Governor’s Rule has been imposed with the approval of the President of India.
Sources said delay in imposition of Governor’s Rule was due to visit of Pranab Mukherjee to Ranchi. As soon as he gave the nod, the Governor’s Rule was imposed in the State.
Meanwhile, with PDP president Mehbooba Mufti still in mourning after the death of her father and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and reluctant to take oath even after ‘congregational fateha’ of Sayeed tomorrow, the PDP and BJP, the two former coalition partners in Jammu and Kashmir, have not yet responded to the letters written to them by Governor NN Vohra yesterday.
Insiders in both the parties told the Excelsior today that they were yet to enter into formal discussions over the Government formation and hoped the process would begin only after Mehbooba Mufti comes out of the deep shock after the death of her father. They said both the parties have not yet responded to Governor NN Vohra’s letter written to them yesterday seeking their views on formation of new Government as there was no deadline in the letter.
“The process to form the Government was likely to take time. It might take weeks. Even consultations have not started so far as Mehbooba is in the State of mourning and shock,” PDP veteran and Education Minister in Mufti Sayeed led Government, Naeem Akhter told the Excelsior on telephone from Srinagar.
Akhter, who has met Mehbooba twice at her residence after the death of Mufti Sayeed, said she belongs to a family, where cultural values matter a lot and she is in mourning and shock. “We must understand the unique relations Mehbooba had with her father as both were partners in the political journey”.
Asserting that Mehbooba is an undisputed leader of the PDP, Naeem said she has been trained in “best political school” and understands her responsibility but “we must understand that she was passing through a difficult phase and could take time (in announcing her decision)”.
PDP sources said though BJP general secretary, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Madhav has met Mehbooba Mufti to offer condolences but directly or indirectly, there had been no discussions on the Government formation.
They pointed out that talks on Government formation could take time and would start only after Mehbooba Mufti comes out of the deep shock.
On letter written to Mehbooba Mufti by Governor NN Vohra yesterday seeking her opinion on the Government formation, sources said since there was no deadline in the letter, the PDP has not replied to it so far.
As far as the BJP was concerned, party leaders too preferred to remain mum on the Governor’s letter.
BJP president Sat Sharma, CA told the Excelsior that they have adopted ‘wait and watch’ situation and would respond to the Governor’s letter only after the PDP does so.
“There has been no deadline set by the Governor for our response to the letter. We will respond at an appropriate time after the meeting of State Legislature Party and in consultations with the party high command,” Sharma said.
BJP insiders said the party was in no hurry to form the Government.
“We are not in a hurry. The PDP and BJP enjoy good political relationship and had run the coalition Government very well for over 10 months. There will be no problem for the two parties to again form the Government,” they said but admitted that it could be a time consuming exercise.
Mufti Sayeed had headed first ever PDP-BJP coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir from March 1, 2015 till he passed away on January 7. There were 25 members Council of Ministry in the State including the Chief Minister. Of them, 15 were from PDP and 10 from BJP.
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