Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah questions timing of dissolution of assembly by Governor Malik

Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (JK) on Wednesday raised a question on the timing of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik’s decision to dissolve the assembly. Malik dissolved the assembly soon after Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti wrote to the Governor staking claim to form the government.

“JKNC has been pressing for assembly dissolution for 5 months now. It can’t be a coincidence that within minutes of Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba letter staking claim the order to dissolve the assembly suddenly appears,” tweeted Abdullah.

Mehbooba tweeted her letter to Malik, claiming that she had not been able to get through to his office over phone or fax.

“Have been trying to send this letter to Raj Bhavan. Strangely the fax is not received. Tried to contact HE Governor on phone. Not available. Hope you see it,” she tweeted, uploading a copy of her letter. 

Minutes later, Peoples Conference president Sajjad Lone tweeted that the “fax machine was not working”, and that he had also sent a letter to the Governor, staking claim to form the government.

In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba on confirmed the grand alliance with the National Conference (NC) and the Congress, saying the PDP was faxing a letter to Malik with the support of 56 candidates in the 87-member house.

According to reports, PDP would lead the grand alliance in a bid to form the next government in the Governor-ruled state. The purpose behind this far-reaching realignment of political forces is to defend the Article 35A in the Supreme Court in January 2019. While the PDP has 29 seats in the state Assembly, the National Conference and the Congress have 15 and 12 respectively. Soon, Sajjad Lone also wrote a letter to Governor Satya Pal Malik, claiming to form a government in the state. Meanwhile, Malik dissolved state Assembly under the relevant provisions in Jammu and Kashmir constitution, an official communique said.