President Kovind approves imposition of Governor's rule in JK

New Delhi: After BJP withdrew support to the PDP-BJP alliance government and no other party came forward to form an alternative dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir, President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday gave his assent to the imposition of Governor's rule in the state. Mr Kovind, who is overseas, gave his approval for the Governor's Rule with immediate effect.

The decision and development come after state Governor N N Vohra forwarded his report to the President for the imposition of Governor's Rule under Section 92 of the Constitution. In the wake of BJP's decision to pull out from the alliance dispensation in the state, Ms Mehbooba Mufti stepped down as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister. Announcing BJP's decision to pull out of the coalition government, party leader Ram Madhav on Tuesday said it would be proper for the state Governor to take over the reins of administration.

The BJP leader attributed deteriorating law and order situation and "rise in radicalisation" in the state as the chief factor for its decision to snap ties with PDP, with whom it shared power in last three years. The BJP and PDP had formed a coalition government in 2015 after the state elections threw up a hung Assembly.

The BJP had 25 seats in the 89-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, while the PDP had 28. Since BJP withdrew support on Tuesday, the Congress and National Conference too decided not to try forming any alliance dispensation in the state. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting in Delhi to review the situation in the state after BJP's decision to withdraw support and Ms Mehbooba tendering resignation. (UNI)