Jammu and Kashmir readies for Governor's rule

Governor's rule is likely to be imposed Friday in Jammu and Kashmir where political parties have failed to form a government following a hung electoral verdict, official sources said.

Governor N.N. Vohra summoned Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey ahead of the widely expected Raj Bhavan proclamation, the sources told IANS.

Under section 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir constitution, the governor is empowered to recommend six months of Governor's rule to the Indian president.

Vohra has met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the situation in the state after Omar Abdullah expressed his inability to continue as the caretaker chief minister.

Once the governor issues the proclamation, the assembly would be kept in suspended animation to give more time to the political parties to work out a coalition to rule the country's only Muslim-majority state.

Two Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party won 28 and 25 seats respectively in the assembly. They have so far failed to reach an agreement on forming a coalition government.

If no government is formed within six months of Governor's rule, Vohra is empowered to recommend imposition of President's rule.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state that has a constitution of its own which is applicable concomitantly with the Indian constitution.