Fresh polls in J&K will be injustice to voters: NC

Srinagar: National Conference today said that fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be an “undesirable eventuality” and injustice to the voters as it reiterated its “unconditional” support to the PDP in formation of government in the state.

“Our offer of unconditional support to the PDP remains there. It is for the PDP leadership to take a call on it,” NC spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu said.

Reacting to the imposition of Governor’s Rule in the state, Mattu said the onus of government formation lies on the PDP.

“Not just due to the fact that PDP is the single largest party but because it has two credible offers of support, from NC and I believe Congress as well, to form a government,” he said.

Asked if his party was ready for fresh elections, Mattu said, “While that remained a technical possibility, it would be an undesirable eventuality.”

“People turned up in such numbers to take part in the elections with the hope of getting an elected government. There is no clarity on what is going on between BJP and PDP on government formation … predicting a fresh election is kind of impossible,” he said.

In response to a question, Mattu said it was for the BJP and PDP to decide whether forcing another election on the people of the state would be an injustice to the voters.

Governor’s rule was imposed in the state today after political parties failed to muster the requisite number in the 87-member Assembly for staking claim to form the government.

Former chief minister Omar Adbullah, soon after his return from England, met Governor NN Vohra asking to be relieved from being the caretaker chief minister of the state.

The National Working president said the state needed a full-time administrator to deal with the situation arising out of border hostilities between India and Pakistan in Jammu region and rehabilitation of flood victims in the Valley.

PDP emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats in the recently concluded J&K elections which threw up a hung Assembly.

BJP won 25 seats in the 87-member house while National Conference and Congress bagged 15 and 12 seats respectively.

PTI