Satya Pal Malik Says Delhi Wanted Him to Make Sajjad Lone CM of J&K, Backtracks
As the opposition raised the matter, Satya Pal Malik backtracked on his statement and said there was no political pressure.
New Delhi, November 27: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday found himself in a tight spot after his admission of the Centre's involvement in the dissolution of the state assembly surfaced. As the opposition raised the matter, Satya Pal Malik backtracked on his statement and said there was no political pressure or interference from the Centre.
Speaking at an event in Gwalior on November 24, Malik said: "Delhi wanted me to make Sajjad Lone chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir." "Had I listened to Delhi, I would have become dishonest forever," he added. Taking a U-turn, the Governor later said he had no pressure from the Modi government was "completely apolitical" while taking the decision on dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. Jammu And Kashmir Assembly Dissolution: What it Means For PDP, NC And BJP.
In an interview, Malik also claimed that Lone was the first person to stake a claim. He said the PDP and National Conference were not serious about forming a government, and wanted to see the state assembly dissolved. A popular government headed by the PDP's Mehbooba Mufti fell when its partner BJP withdrew support from the ruling coalition on June 16.
On November 21, Malik dissolved the state assembly even as People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti wrote to him saying that the Congress and the National Conference had decided to support the PDP to form a government and their collective strength was 56. Meanwhile, People's Conference's Sajjad Lone also wrote to the Governor staking claim to form a government with the BJP's backing.
The state is currently under governor’s rule which cannot be extended after it completes its six-month period on December 19. Since the assembly has been dissolved, elections must be held within six months.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 27, 2018 02:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).