Jammu and Kashmir comes under Governor's rule; Sonia Gandhi to meet Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday

Srinagar/ New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir was on Saturday night placed under Governor's rule with the process of new government formation following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed taking some time.

"Governor's rule has been imposed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," a Home Ministry spokesperson said in Delhi.

Governor NN Vohra, exercising his powers under Section 92 of Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, issued a proclamation to impose Governor's rule in the state.

A Raj Bhawan spokesperson in Jammu said the Governor's Rule was imposed in the state after receiving concurrence from the President of India.

"Consequent to the sudden passing away of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on 7th January 2016, the process to form government had commenced and intimations were still awaited about the respective positions of PDP and BJP.

"Considering the likelihood of some more time being taken before government can be formed, with the approval of the President of India, Governor's Rule has been imposed in the State with effect from 8th January, 2016, under Section 92(1) of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir," the spokesperson said.

Earlier, while speaking to news agency ANI, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, who hails from Jammu region, had said, “For now Governor's rule has been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir till a new Chief Minister is sworn-in.”

The state had to be put under Governor's rule in view of the reluctance of Mufti's daughter Mehbooba to take oath during the mourning period though her party has already conveyed to the governor that 28 MLAs of the PDP legislature party backed her for the Chief Minister's post.

Sayeed died on Thursday after a brief illness and since then there is a constitutional vacuum.

PDP's coalition ally BJP has also indicated that it would take a decision on new government formation once the four-day morning period is over tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is expected to visit Kashmir tomorrow to offer condolences to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.