Governor's rule likely in J&K by Friday evening

Governor's rule is likely to be imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening as PDP president Mehbooba Mufti was reeportedly reluctant to take oath as the new chief minister before the end of four-day mourning for her father.

"There is no other option for Governor N.N. Vohra but to impose Governor's rule in the state till such time as he receives a formal letter from somebody claiming a majority support in the state assembly," a Raj Bhavan source told IANS.

Officials said a gubernatorial notification on Governor's rule was expected by Friday evening.

Under powers vested in him by the state constitution, the governor will have to keep the state assembly in suspended animation till another democratically elected government takes office.

Despite attempts by some party leaders to persuade her, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti is reluctant to take oath till Sunday when the four-day mourning for her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ends, PDP sources told IANS.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav reached Srinagar along with BJP's Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna who is in charge of party affairs in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Madhavji visited the late CM's official residence on the Gupkar Road here to offer condolences to the bereaved family," BJP's state spokesman Khalid Jahangir said.

Central BJP leaders are scheduled to attend a meeting of state party leaders and legislators here on Friday evening to decide on its support to Mehbooba Mufti as the next chief minister.