BJP-PDP split: Jammu and Kashmir's chaotic alliance politics has seen Governor's Rule eight times in four decades

President Ram Nath Kovind announced Governor’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, plunging the state to its eighth Governor’s Rule in just over four decades. Unlike other states which have provisions of President’s Rule in case the government collapses, the unique Constitution in place in Jammu and Kashmir means it’s Governor’s Rule that’s imposed. Under Governor’s Rule, the state Assembly is either kept in suspended animation or dissolved. If it is not possible to restore the state machinery before the expiry of the six-month period, the provision is extended. It would be the eighth time in four decades that Governor’s Rule has been imposed in the state. In fact, NN Vohra, who became governor on 25 June, 2008, himself has overseen four such instances. [caption id=“attachment_4552711” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of NN Vohra with Mehbooba Mufti. PTI[/caption] The BJP pulled out of its alliance with the PDP, saying it has become impossible to continue in the government in view of the growing radicalism and terrorism in the state. Ironically, late PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the father of incumbent chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and her predecessor, was an important player in the political developments of the state that led to the imposition of central rule on the previous seven occasions. Sayeed’s death was the cause for the last promulgation of the Governor’s Rule on 8 January, 2016, after allies PDP and BJP deferred the government formation process till the end of the four-day mourning period. Invoking Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, Vohra promulgated Governor’s Rule after approval by President Pranab Mukherjee. It was the seventh time that Governor’s Rule was promulgated in the state since Independence, the first being in March 1977. The central rule came to an end after Mehbooba Mufti was sworn in as the chief minister on 4 April, 2016. Governor’s Rule was imposed for the first time on 26 March 1977 during the tenure of Governor LK Jha after state Congress — then headed by Sayeed — withdrew support to the minority government of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah of National Conference. Sheikh had come to the power following an accord with then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Governor’s Rule then lasted for 105 days and ended after the National Conference founder returned to power in the Assembly polls. Governor’s Rule was imposed for the second time in March 1986 after state Congress — again headed by Sayeed — withdrew support to the minority government of Ghulam Mohammad Shah. Shah became the chief minister after he led a rebellion with National Conference against his brother-in-law and then incumbent chief minister Farooq Abdullah in 1984. This 246-day spell ended after Farooq Abdullah entered into an accord of his own with the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The third time Governor’s Rule was imposed in January 1990 when Farooq Abdullah resigned as chief minister over the appointment of Jagmohan as governor following eruption of militancy in the state. Sayeed was the Union home minister at that time and had brushed aside Farooq Abdullah’s opposition to Jagmohan’s appointment. This was the longest spell of Governor’s Rule — six years and 264 days — ended in October 1996 after National Conference returned to power in Assembly elections held after a gap of nine-and-a-half years. Six years later, Governor’s Rule had to be imposed in the state for the fourth time in October 2002 after caretaker chief minister Farooq Abdullah refused to continue in the office in the wake of his party’s defeat in the Assembly elections that year. The 2002 polls threw up a hung Assembly with no party in a position to form a government on its own. Sayeed, whose regional PDP had won 16 seats, negotiated an alliance with the Congress and dozen-odd Independents to form government, ending the 15-day direct central rule on 1 March, when Sayeed was sworn in as the chief minister. It was the shortest spell of Governor’s Rule — 15 days — as the PDP and Congress with support of 12 Independents formed a government on 2 November. Governor’s Rule was imposed in the state for the fifth time for 174 days after the PDP withdrew support to Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Congress-PDP coalition government in 2008. The PDP withdrew support to the government on 28 June, 2008, following widespread protests during the Amarnath land row agitation that pitted Hindu-dominated Jammu region against the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley. Azad was to seek a vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly on 7 July, but chose to resign instead. The central rule came to an end on 5 January, 2009, after National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the youngest chief minister of the state. It was for the first time that Governor’s Rule was imposed during Vohra’s tenure. Governor’s Rule was then imposed in the state for the sixth time after elections on 23 December, 2014, which threw up a hung Assembly with no party or combination of parties able to stake claim for government formation, and Omar Abdullah, the caretaker chief minister, asking to be relieved from the duties with immediate effect on 7 January. Central rule ended after the PDP and BJP stitched an alliance paving the way for the return of Mufti Sayeed as chief minister on 1 March, 2015. When Governor’s Rule was imposed for the seventh time in 2016 — the third time during Vohra’s tenure — Omar Abdullah had said imposition of Governor’s Rule during Vohra’s tenure “must be a record in itself”.