Jammu
National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has ruled out any government formation in the near future after career politician Satya Pal Malik was sworn in as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
“Nani hunz hukmat ,” Farooq Abdullah used a Kashmiri proverb to underscore the fact that no government formation is on cards.
Farooq, who had received the Governor at the airport on Wednesday and was among the leading politicians to attend the swearing-in, said: “I am not in the business of government formation.”
Malik’s arrival has led to speculation that he’s been appointed to facilitate formation of a new government. J&K has been under Governor’s rule since June 20, a day after the fall of the PDP-BJP government. The NC has 15 MLAs, BJP 25 and PDP 28 in the 87-member House. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who was also present at Malik’s oath-taking ceremony, had resigned immediately after the BJP withdrew support to her government on June 19. She had categorically refused to explore the possibilities of an alternative government.
The speculation about government formation had gained currency after some PDP legislators raised a banner of revolt against Mehbooba Mufti.