Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik: New Delhi wanted Sajjad Lone as CM

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said that the Centre wanted him to make Sajjad Lone the chief minister of the state. "I didn't ring up New Delhi to seek their suggestion as maybe they could have told me to allow Sajjad Lone to form the government," he said, adding that he dissolved the Assembly as he had apprehensions about horse-trading that could have led to killings and chaos in Kashmir.  

However, the Governor said that there was no political pressure or interference from the Centre and the decision was completely apolitical.

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"I do not want to be remembered as a dishonest man in the books of history," he said. The Governor said that in case the government was formed in the state the situation in the Valley would have deteriorated. "I got many WhatsApp messages wherein people hailed my decision," he said.

Interestingly, the Governor said that Sajjad had also sent a letter to form the government but not to his PA but to the PA of the erstwhile Governor NN Vohra.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an intense political drama on Wednesday after former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti claimed to form a coalition government with sworn enemies, the National Conference and the Congress finally resulting in the dissolution of the state Legislative Assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik.

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Mehbooba Mufti's efforts to form a government got a boost after former deputy chief minister and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig openly supported the third front. "I would leave the party if the third front emerges," Baig said addressing a press conference in Srinagar. According to Baig, the PDP failed to live up to its vision.