New Delhi:
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an intense political drama on Wednesday after former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti claimed to form a coalition government with sworn enemies, the National Conference and the Congress finally resulting in the dissolution of the state Legislative Assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik.
Mehbooba Mufti’s efforts to form government got a boost after former deputy chief minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig openly supported the third front. “I would leave the party if the third front emerges,” Baig said addressing a press conference in Srinagar on Tuesday. According to Baig, the PDP failed to live up to its vision.
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Within less than 24 hours after Baig’s press conference, former minister and PDP leader Syed Altaf Bukhari announced the understanding between 'secular parties' to create a sort of grand alliance and constitute the government with the support of 56 lawmakers in the state.
The First Letter – 7:30 pm
Confirming the grand alliance with the National Conference (NC) and the Congress, Mehbooba Mufti said that the PDP is faxing a letter to Governor Satya Pal Malik with the support of 56 candidates in the 87-member house. “You might have gathered from the media reports that the Congress and National Conference have also decided to extend to our party to form a government in the state,” the letter reads. Mehbooba Mufti’s letter went viral on social media.
.@MehboobaMufti stakes claim to form government in #JammuAndKashmir, sends letter to Governor with support of #NC, #Congresshttps://t.co/WcfwJAonCC pic.twitter.com/4hbyH8Rqc7
— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) November 21, 2018
The Second letter – 8:30 pm
Barely after landing in Delhi from London, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone also staked claim to form the government.
“Following the telephonic conversation regarding government formation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, I hereby formally stake my claim for Government formation in the state with the support of BJP and more than eighteen other elected members of the J&K State legislature, which is more than the required number of members making a majority in the state legislative assembly. I shall submit the letter of support from the BJP legislature Party and other members supporting the government headed by the undersigned as and when asked to do so by your excellency”, the letter by Lone reads.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) November 21, 2018
The Final letter - 9 pm
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik issued the final order dissolving the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening with an immediate effect. According to a press communique from the Raj Bhavan in Jammu, the Governor took this decision based on material available to him from multiple sources.
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“By virtue of the powers vested upon me in terms of Proclamation No: P-1/18 of 2018 dated: 20th June 2018 issued under sub-section (1) of Section 92 and in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section-53 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly,” the order reads.
LIVE: #JammuAndKashmir Governor dissolves Assembly after @MehboobaMufti, #SajjadLone stake claims to form governmenthttps://t.co/P4wqZ2m5Oh pic.twitter.com/ZFPUe3geVS
— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) November 21, 2018
