Omar Abdullah seeks early elections in J&K

Abdullah said he had assured the National Conference's support to the Governor but added that the Governor and his administration must ensure that early elections are held to put an elected government in place.

Omar Abdullah gestures during a media event. AFP PHOTO

SRINAGAR: The Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday collapsed after the BJP pulled out of its alliance with the PDP. Both National Conference and the Congress said they will not form an alliance with any party to form government in the state. Former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah demanded early elections as he spoke to the media after calling on Governor NN Vohra. "I have met the Governor just a little while back. I told the Governor that in the 2014 elections, the National Conference did not have the mandate to form a government and today also we don't have the mandate," IANS quoted Abdullah as saying. "We have neither been approached nor have we approached any party for support to form a government in the state." "The Governor has no option but to impose Governor's rule and improve the situation so that a democratic government is formed in the state after holding fresh elections," Abdullah said. Abdullah, whose party is the third biggest in the assembly, captured the drama with one sentence, "I wish Mehbooba Mufti had resigned herself... instead of having the rug pulled from under her feet." Abdullah said he had assured the National Conference's support to the Governor but added that the Governor and his administration must ensure that early elections are held to put an elected government in place. "As a responsible political party, we will work for peace in all the three regions of the state." He said the timing of the BJP's decision had taken him by surprise. "Yes, I was surprised by the timing of the BJP decision. I expected this to happen later this year, but it happened sooner because of the deterioration in situation." Asked if his party was happy about the development, he said: "We do not celebrate this break- up. We are mourning the demise of democracy in the state". Would he ask the Governor to keep the state Assembly in suspended animation or seek its dissolution? Abdullah replied: "That is the prerogative of the Governor and of nobody else." (With nputs from IANS)