Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has demanded dissolution of Assembly to prevent horse-trading in the follow up of sudden break-up of PDP-BJP alliance that paved way for imposition of Governor’s rule in the embattled State. The demand came amid unsubstantiated rumours that legislators were being approached to change their loyalties to form new Government.
Abdullah said that People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and BJP have been watching Bollywood movies for political strategy and this is how they have crafted their “divorce”. He said the withdrawal of support to Mehbooba Mufti was a “fixed match”.
“The PDP & BJP have been watching Bollywood movies for political strategy. This is how they have crafted their “divorce”. Brilliant fixed match, scripted to perfection except the audience aren’t fools & neither are the rest of us,” Abdullah wrote on twitter and uploaded a video clip from an old Bollywood movie that buttresses his argument on the latest political developments in the state.
Abdullah had earlier said that horse-trading was possible because the state assembly has been put in suspended animation after the imposition of Governor’s rule. The BJP national General Secretary Ram Madhav took a dig on Abdullah asking him as to why he was scared of horse-trading. “I’m sure his (Omar’s) partymen are loyal to him”, Madhav wrote on twitter.
In response Omar said, “I have no doubt about my MlAs but we all know what happened in the PDP after its party patron Mufti Mohammad Syeed died and the sort of pressure that was applied to Mehbooba Mufti.”
In another tweet Omar wrote: “Then why not dissolve the assemblyIJ If @rammadhavbjp is true to his word that there is no question of horse trading & clearly no new alliances are being formed then the assembly should be dissolved. Keeping it suspended has encouraged dalals.”
The call for dissolution of state assembly came amid rumours that a split was underway in PDP as several legislators have been approached to change their loyalties. At least three legislators took to social media refuting the rumours. Former finance minister Haseeb Drabu, who was sacked by Mehbooba Mufti for a statement that allegedly went against PDP’s core ideology was reported as attending a meeting with rebels. He clarified that he was at his residence in Mumbai and it appeared that his clone has been created who attended a rebel meeting.Meanwhile, independent legislator Sheikh Rashid asked NC and PDP to forge alliance to give a befitting reply to BJP’s ‘machinations’. He said the way BJP withdrew support to PDP; it was a slap on the face of regional parties who have been making tall but false claims of fighting for protecting the special status and interests of the State.