While Political scuttlebutt in Jammu & and Kashmir was enthusiastic on that the Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) are engaged in serious parleys to form a coalition government in the state and this coalition between the three parties could foil attempts by the BJP to encourage defections in other parties. The formation of a government by the three parties in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections would be a severe setback to the BJP that was recently met with the resignation of its Ladakh MP Thupstan Chhewang. Chhewang had decided to leave politics to pursue spiritualism.
In the state elections in 2015, the BJP won 25 seats and the PDP 28 in the 87-member assembly. The two parties came together to form the government with an Agenda of Alliance. The PDP has 28 legislators in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly, Congress has 12 and the National Conference has 15, which places them well ahead of the majority mark of 44.Last week, Governor Satyapal Malik said that Jammu and Kashmir is headed for President’s rule but the state assembly will not be dissolved for now.
President’s rule can be imposed after the Union Cabinet, headed by the prime minister, makes a recommendation to the president to this effect following a report of the governor.
Under such circumstances, there is no need for the Centre to get a parliamentary nod for extension of central rule beyond December 19. While the Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir is imposed under Section 92 of the state’s Constitution, President’s rule is imposed under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution
