Srinagar, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir was brought under Governor's rule from Thursday night , according to state Congress president Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad, who met the state governor here, said Saxena told him that he was left with no option but to impose his rule in the state. According to Azad, the Governor had told him that imposition of his rule was not a permanent step and that when political parties convince him that they could form a stable government the governor's rule would be revoked.

The sudden decision to place the state under Governor's rule followed the refusal of caretaker Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to continue in office, rejecting a request from State Governor G C Saxena who had given political parties time till October 21 to form a government. Azad blamed Abdullah for the constitutional crisis leading to the imposition of Governor's rule.
He said he had been talking to leaders of several parties including the CPI (M) and Panthers' Party besides the independents regarding government formation.
In all, he had spoken to 38 MLAs during the day, Azad said.

Bureau Report