SRINAGAR: Breaking his silence on the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said that coming together of political parties with opposing ideologies could not give a stable government.
“The impossibility of forming a stable government by the coming together of political parties with opposing political ideologies including some which have been demanding dissolution of the Assembly; whereas the experience of the past few years shows that with the fractured mandate that is there in the Assembly, it is not possible to form a stable government comprising of like minded parties,” Malik said in a communiqué issued late night.
The coming together of such parties in a grouping is nothing but an attempt to gain power rather than to form a responsive government, he said.
Malik noted that there were reports of extensive horse trading and possible exchange of money in order to secure the support of legislators belonging to widely diverging political ideologies just to be able to form a government.
“Such activities are not healthy for democracy and vitiate the political process. Serious doubts about the longevity of any such arrangement where there are competing claims of majority,” he said.
Governor noted that the fragile security scenario in the state of Jammu and Kashmir where there is a need to have a stable and supportive environment for security forces which are engaged in extensive anti-militancy operations and are gradually gaining control over the security situation.
Malik said he came to the conclusion that, in this background, he has satisfied himself that the best course of action is to dissolve the assembly so as to provide stability and security to the state and hold elections at an appropriate time so that a government with a clear mandate is duly formed.
Earlier, amid high political drama, Malik dissolved the Legislative Assembly five months after it was placed under suspended animation following the fall of the PDP-BJP government in the state.
“The governor Satya Pal Malik has passed an order in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by clause (b) of sub section (2) of section 53 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir dissolving the Legislative Assembly”, said Umang Narula, principal secretary to the governor.
The dissolution came minutes after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti shot off a letter to the Governor staking claim to form the government with the support of arch rivals — Congress and National Conference (NC).
Mufti’s claim was followed by another bid from Sajad Lone, leader of the two-member People’s Conference, who claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.
Governor’s rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on June 19 for a six-month period after BJP withdrew its support from the coalition government led by Mufti. The state assembly was kept in suspended animation so that political parties could explore the possibility of forming a new government.
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