J-K govt collapses after BJP pulls out of alliance with PDP

Team Udayavani, Jun 19, 2018, 6:28 PM IST

New Delhi/Srinagar: The three-year Jammu and Kashmir government, wracked by bitter political feuds and worsening security challenges, collapsed today with the BJP pulling out of its alliance with the PDP setting the stage for yet another round of governor’s rule.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav made the surprise announcement after the party high command summoned its Jammu and Kashmir ministers for emergency consultations in New Delhi. A few hours later, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation to Governor N N Vohra amid a swirl of political activity in Srinagar and New Delhi. 

“It has become untenable for the BJP to continue in the alliance government in the state,” Madhav told reporters at a hurriedly called press conference. 

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, whose party is the third biggest in the assembly, captured the drama with one sentence, “I wish Mehbooba Mufti had resigned herself… instead of the having the rug pulled from under her feet.” 

The BJP won 25 seats and the PDP 28 in the 87-member assembly and came together in an alliance, two months after the December 2014 elections. The NC has 15 seats, the Congress 12 and others seven. 

Although the BJP and the PDP had campaigned vigorously against each other, they came together with an Agenda of Alliance in the hope of pulling the state out of the cycle of violence. But the Alliance never took hold and the two parties disagreed on most issues even as the security situation continued to deteriorate. 

Both Omar and the Congress said they will not form an alliance with any party to form the government in the state. The BJP also said it favours governor’s rule. 

If imposed, it will be the fourth time since 2008 and the eighth time since 1977. 

Madhav said the decision to withdraw was taken after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah.