BJP Pulls out of alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir; calls for Governor’s rule

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has submitted her letter of resignation to the governor and discontinued the BJP-PDP alliance.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has withdrawn from the coalition it had formed with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was announced by party general secretary Ram Madhav after BJP’s J&K lawmakers had a meeting with Amit Shah in Delhi.

Whatever has happened is good. People of J&K will get some relief. They (BJP) ruined Kashmir & have now pulled out, maximum number of civilian & army men died during these 3 years. That question does not arise (on forming alliance with PDP): GN Azad, Congress pic.twitter.com/rcfVelHdnT

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2018

The signs were there for months, but Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling coalition crashed today as the BJP yanked support from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), leaving the state facing Governor’s Rule. “It had become untenable to continue with the PDP government in Kashmir,” said senior BJP leader Ram Madhav, referring to reasons like deteriorating security and “discrimination” in parts of the state like Jammu and Ladakh. Mehbooba Mufti resigned not long after.

Omar Abdulla held a press conference and addressed the media.

#WATCH LIVE from Srinagar: National Conference's Omar Abdullah addresses the media #JammuAndKashmir https://t.co/axXLrVXuEo

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2018

Also Read: BJP-PDP Govt Crumbles, Amit Shah Decides to Pull Party Out of ‘Untenable’ J&K Alliance

EX CM Mehbooba Mufti addressed a gathering and said that the alliance was aimed at the reconciliation and not to grab power. The attempt to reconciliation will continue at the same pace.

#WATCH LIVE from Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti addresses a Press Conference #JammuAndKashmir https://t.co/oHY3JLHHu2

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2018

After BJP-PDP divorce, these are the four options left:

Option 1. A ‘Mahagathbandhan’ against the BJP

PDP + JKNC + Congress = 28 + 15 + 12 = 55 seats (A majority)

However, the Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad has ruled this out.

Option 2. A sensational tie-up of the BJP and the JKNC. Omar Abdullah is going to meet the Governor, at the time of publishing, and his party is to hold a briefing at 4:10 pm.

BJP + JKNC = 25 + 15 = 40 (4 short of a majority)

Option 3. A Congress-PDP alliance (which has also been ruled out by Ghulam Nabi Azad)

Congress + PDP = 12 + 28 = 40 (4 short of a majority)

Option 4: Governor’s rule is imposed. As such, in any other state, if there is a breakdown in the constitutional machinery, President’s rule is imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution. However, in J&K, Governor’s rule is imposed for a period of six months under a provision of section 92 of the state constitution and a proclamation to this effect is issued by the Governor only after the consent of the President of India. The state assembly will either be kept in suspended animation or dissolved (and fresh assembly polls ordered – Option 3).

Option 5: If the constitutional machinery isn’t restored before the end of six months, the provision of Article 365 is extended and President’s rule is imposed in the state.

J&K Governor Vohra’s tenure expires on June 28. He is expected to be given another extension.