To steer the State out of a political mess in the wake of the fractured mandate in the 2014 Assembly polls, Governor NN Vohra on Friday issued a Proclamation under Section 92(1) of the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir to impose Central rule there soon after receiving concurrence from President Pranab Mukherjee.
The decision to impose President’s Rule was necessitated after caretaker Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed his desire to step down in order to pave the way for the full-time administrator to deal with the flood relief measures and tense border situation. According to the statement issued by the Raj Bhawan here in Jammu: “As no political party or parties have so far staked their claim to form the next Government, the governance of the State cannot be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the State.
Consequently, with the approval of the President of India, Governor’s Rule has been imposed in the State under Section 92(1) of the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir with effect from January 8, 2015.” Vohra, who was camping in New Delhi for the last couple of days, had submitted a comprehensive report to the Union Government suggesting different ways to deal with the emerging political situation in the State.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had forwarded the report to the Prime Minister’s Office for necessary action on January 8. Among different suggestions one of the options listed by Vohra was imposition of President’s Rule in the State. After losing the 2014 Assembly polls on December 23, 2014 when Omar tendered his resignation, he was asked by the Governor to continue in office as caretaker Chief Minister on December 24. Two days later Omar flew to london to spend some time with his ailing parents who had undergone major surgery.
State Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday late on Friday evening called on the Governor and discussed the status of flood relief measures and steps taken for providing relief to the victims of ceasefire violations across the International Border. The Governor is also scheduled to visit the State Civil Secretariat on Saturday where he is expected to chair a meeting of all administrative secretaries and hold discussions with the DGP and senior bureaucrats to fine-tune the working of the State machinery.