Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 4: J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik has overruled the possibility of government formation in the state by the sitting lawmakers and hinted that new government could be formed only after fresh elections.
Dismissing outright the possibility of government formation in the state, Governor Malik has said: "I can guarantee that there will be no underhand government in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections will be held and whoever is elected will form the government. First, Parliament elections; it is possible that Parliament and assembly may take place together or may be later. I don't have the brief to provide a timetable for that. However, the election will be fair. There will be an election, no government will be formed resulting from defection while I am in office".
"While Narendra Modi is Prime Minister, Jammu and Kashmir will see no political machinations. Elections will be absolutely fair," he has further said, adding that "the perception that security forces will be given a free hand during Governor's rule is incorrect. "In my discussions with all three GOCs, no one has asked for a free hand," he claimed, and added that "he is in favour of 'wiping out' militancy, not militants".
The statement made by the Governor is unambiguous and loud. It can be taken to mean that he will not allow any kind of horse trading in the state. His stand on the government formation will, on the one hand, keep the NC and the PDP leadership happy, as it was fearing a revolt and, on the other hand, dampen the spirit of the BJP leadership in the state, which had been flirting the "some PDP disgruntled MLAs" and separatist-turned-mainstream Sajad Lone.
Many local BJP leaders had one after another been asserting that they would form government with "like-minded parties" and that "Governor's rule is no substitute to popularly-elected government".
The BJP has 25 MLAs and its ally PC two. The PDP has 27 MLAs, the NC 15 and the Congress 11. |
