The BJP on Tuesday pulled out of the coalition with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the second largest party in the Legislative Assembly with 25 members.
At a press conference in New Delhi, BJP vice president and general secretary Ram Madhav said, "It has become untenable for the BJP to continue with the alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir."
The party took the decision after holding discussions with the State unit and the Ministers. "Everyone is on board on this decision,” he said.
Recalling that the Assembly elections in 2014 threw a fractured mandate, Mr. Madhav said the BJP decided to support the PDP in order to bring stability in the region. “Restoring peace in Kashmir and encouraging economic development in the three areas of the State was the object of this alliance."
The BJP Ministers would resign from the Cabinet and the legislators would convey the decision to the Governor soon, he said.
The BJP favoured Governor’s rule in the State. “Keeping in mind that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and in order to control the prevailing situation in the State, we have decided that the reins of power in the state be handed over to the Governor,” Mr. Madhav told journalists.
Here are the updates:
J&K Governor Vohra forwarded his report to the President of India for imposition of Governor’s rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Raj Bhawan spokesman.
"After concluding consultations with all the major political parties in J&K, Governor Vohra has forwarded his report to the President of India for imposition of Governor’s Rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir," said the spokesman.
Not an enemy territory: Mehbooba
Confirming that she had sent her resignation to Governor N.N. Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said her party, the PDP, did not ally with the BJP for power. "We defended Article 370 and 35A", she said. ""We can’t treat J and K as enemy territory. There is no room for 'muscular policy' in the State.''
"I have told Governor we will not go into any other alliance,'' said Ms. Mehbooba after submitting her resignation to the Governor.
Even after achieving many positive signs, including the peace talks offer, ceasefire and Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan, there was no positive response from the other side, she said.
I am not surprised by decision but by the timing: Omar
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah addressed the media after meeting the Governor.
He said:
"I met the Governor and conveyed to him that the National Conference had no mandate in 2014 and no such mandate now. We will not form government with anyone. No one approached us and we will approach no one.
"We expect Governor's rule and elections soon. We request that the Governor's rule should not stay long as people have the right to choose the government.
"I am not surprised by the decision but by the timing.
"There is a marked deterioration of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. We are mourning the demise of the democracy in the State.
"I have been telling Mehbooba to go. She chose to be dismissed with no dignity."
Ms. Mufti submitted her resignation to the Governor, IANS r eports.
Immediately after she learnt about the BJP’s decision, Ms. Mufti rushed to the Raj Bhawan.
No question of alliance with PDP: Congress
The Congress has ruled out any tie-up with the PDP after the BJP pulled out of the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the BJP had committed a “Himalayan blunder” by forming a government with the PDP.
He said the BJP, a national party, should not have allied with PDP, a regional player.
“The regional parties should have been allowed to form an alliance among themselves,” he told reporters.
The alliance has devastated the State, be it economically or socially, and has left Jammu and Kashmir in a state of “ruins”, he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee said the PDP-BJP coalition was destined to break as it was an “unholy” alliance.
“This was an unholy alliance and it was expected to break from day one. They had betrayed the people of the State and supporters of the respective parties. They sought votes on opposing agendas,” PCC president G. A. Mir said.
Mehbooba calls emergency meeting of party
Ms. Mufti called an emergency meeting of party leaders at at her residence in the evening.
"The coalition functioning was getting difficult with each passing day. We no more suited them. We are not surprised," PDP political secretary Peer Mansoor told The Hindu minutes after the BJP announced its decision to the media.
Highlights from Mr. Madhav's press conference
Mr. Madhav said at the press conference in Delhi:
''It has become untenable for BJP to continue with the alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have discussed with the State unit and our Ministers in the government to come to this conclusion. Everyone is on board on this decision
“The mandate that we had got was a fractured one and, therefore, this alliance came about. Restoring peace in Kashmir and encouraging economic development in the three areas of the state was the object of this alliance
“We now see terrorism, violence, radicalism is on the rise in the Valley. Basic freedoms of people are in peril, you saw how journalist Shujaat Bukhari was killed.
“The Centre and the Home Ministry made a sincere effort, cooperating for the developmental aspirations of the people of the state, and for the security of the State.
“It, therefore, grieves me that despite this, the dominant party in the alliance [PDP] was not able to handle the situation in the State.
“Obstacles were also placed in the way of development projects in Jammu and Ladakh.
“For the BJP, J&K is an integral and unalienable part of India. Keeping in mind the larger national interest of integrity of the country, we have decided that it is time that we reassess the situation. That the state be under Governor’s rule”.
