Jammu & Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik unexpectedly dissolved the state legislative assembly late on Wednesday, ending any possibility of government formation, shortly after rival political combines said they would stake their claims to power. The state is now headed for a further spell of president’s rule after the first six-month term ends on December 19.
The governor released the communiqué of dissolution minutes after People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti released a letter on Twitter announcing that she would seek to form the government with her traditional rivals, the National Conference (NC) and Congress.
Mufti’s letter was followed by People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone’s letter to the governor on WhatsApp, putting forth a similar bid. Mufti and Lone said they used social media because the fax machine at the governor’s residence didn’t seem to be working. Mufti added that Malik was not available on the phone either.