Guv makes efforts for early govt formation

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 7

As the state has completed a month under the Central rule after the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Governor NN Vohra has made serious efforts for early restoration of an elected government in J&K.

The prolonged Central rule is the outcome of the ongoing political impasse between the Peoples Democratic Party and the BJP — the two largest parties in the Legislative Assembly —- over the formation of a new government in Jammu and Kashmir following the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7.

The state came under the Governor’s rule on January 8 after the reluctance of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to take over the reins — initially on the pretext of mourning for her father and thereafter, preconditions in the forms of more J&K-centric confidence-building measures before realigning with the BJP.

Keeping in view the sensitivities of the state, Vohra made all serious efforts to see a popular and elected government in place. His keenness to have an elected government in the state could be gauged from the fact that he was willing to travel to Srinagar for administering the oath, if the constitutional requirements were in place after Mufti Sayeed’s death.

The Governor, being the custodian of the Constitution, went by the rule book and imposed his rule with the approval of the President after the PDP and the BJP did not respond to his letters till January 9 afternoon, in which they had been asked to clear their stand on government formation.

In his Republic Day address, Vohra again made an earnest appeal for early formation of a democratic government in the state, hoping that the Governor rule’s would not be for long.

In the midst of a political stalemate and flip-flop, the Governor renewed his efforts for restoration of a democratic government in the state by inviting the PDP and the BJP leaders for holding discussions on formation of a new government on February 2.

He held wide-ranging discussions with leaders of the two parties but the exercise failed to yield the desired results as they (PDP and BJP) did not evolve a consensus and join hands to form the government in the state. It was only after the indecisiveness of the two parties, the Governor appointed advisers on February 4 for the smooth functioning of the state administration.

The appointment of advisers was aimed at striking a balance between ‘field work’ and file work (administrative functioning), besides ensuring good and responsive government in the state.

In January last year, the Governor was averse to the appointment of advisers. At that time, he had empowered the administrative secretaries of the state by delegating the powers of ministers to them to carry out routine functioning of the administration.

Timeline: Major decisions

Jan 8: Governor NN vohra writes to the PDP and the BJP, asking them to clear their position on government formation 

Jan 9: Notification out on Governor’s rule in J&K which was imposed with effect from January 8 

Jan 12: All cases pending in the Chief Minister’s office since December last year cleared

Jan 14: Powers delegated to the administrative secretaries 

Jan 15: Multi-agency security audit of all vital civil and defence installations in J&K ordered

Jan 27: Instructions for time-bound action on relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants

Jan 28: Administration asked to evolve an action plan to hold the urban local bodies and the panchayat elections  

Jan 30: Governor reviews Budget for 2016-17 fiscal. All outstanding delays on account of the general provident fund withdrawals cleared by the Finance Department. Payment of Rs 125 crore made in a single day 

Feb 1: Governor directs completion of Aadhaar, National Population Register enrolment by March 31

Feb 2: To end the political impasse, Governor meets PDP and BJP leaders separately for early government

Feb 2: Governor directs speedy dredging of the Jhelum river

Feb 4: Two retired IAS officers Parvez Dewan and Khurshid Ahmed Ganai appointed as advisers to the Governor 

Feb 6: Governor directs finalisation of a scheme for the flood-hit traders and small businesses in 15 days 

Feb 7: Governor writes to the Defence Minister for enhancing compensation to persons affected by the field firing ranges