Srinagar, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chander Saxena today asked caretaker Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to continue in office till the next government was formed in the state. In a written communication to Abdullah, Saxena said, "You will continue till the next government in the state is formed". The communication averted a possible constitutional crisis as Abdullah, earlier in the day had conveyed to Saxena that he had no moral right to continue as chief minister after midnight tonight. Abdullah had quit on October 12 following the drubbing of National Conference in the assembly elections but was asked by the governor to continue till the next government was formed or till October 17.
Abdullah, after a meeting with Saxena, had said, "I have conveyed to the governor that I cannot morally continue as the chief minister after midnight tonight".
Immediately after this, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee telephoned Abdullah asking him to continue as otherwise this would lead to a constitutional crisis in the state.

Bureau Report