SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday dissolved the assembly even as the PDP-NC-Congress combine and Sajad Lone staked claim for the government formation.
“The Governor, Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik, has passed an order in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by clause (b) of subsection (2) of section 53 of the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir dissolving the legislative assembly,” read an order issued by Umang Narula, IAS, Principal Secretary to Governor.
“By virtue of powers vested upon me in terms of Proclamation No. P-1/18 of 2018 dated 20th June 2018 issued under sub-section (1) of section 92 and in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 53 of the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, I hereby dissolve the Legislative assembly,” added the order.
Omar Abdullah, working president of the NC, said the order issued from the Raj Bhavan minutes after Mehbooba Mufti staked a claim for government formation was not a “coincidence”.
“JKNC has been pressing for assembly dissolution for 5 months now. It can’t be a coincidence that within minutes of Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba letter staking claim the order to dissolve the assembly suddenly appears,” he tweeted.