J&K Assembly dissolved;  PDP-Congress-NC attempt to form govt nipped in the bud

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was dissolved on Wednesday night amidst conflicting claims over government formation. Governor Satya Pal Malik, who is known to be a right-wing loyalist, announced the decision in a press communique.

Earlier in the day, there were reports that Congress, PDP and NC had agreed to form a government. Senior People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former finance minister Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday, November 21, went to meet NC leader Omar Abdullah to discuss the modalities about the proposed alliance.  According to credible sources, NC is willing to give outside support to the proposed Congress-PDP coalition government in J&K.

Later, Mehbooba Mufti tweeted a letter that she has been trying to send to Governor Satya Pal Malik, which states that since she is not in Jammu currently, she will soon be meeting him to stake the claim for forming the government in the state.

"As you are aware that Peoples Democratic Party is the largest party in the State assembly having a strength of 29. You might have gathered from the media reports that the Congress and National Conference has a strength of 15 and the Congress 12. That takes over collective strength to 56," her letter reads.

Until news of the dissolution came, former Finance and Education Minister Altaf Bukhari was reportedly tipped to be the next Chief Minister of the PDP-led collation.

In the 87-member House, the BJP has 25 MLAs, all from Jammu, and claims the support of Kashmir Valley-based Peoples Conference which has two MLAs.

Hectic developments marked the day with consultations between leaders of the parties in the valley after reports emerged that the BJP was trying to form a government with support of rebel MLAs from the PDP along with the backing of Sajjad Lone's party.