'PDP, BJP should ask for dissolution of assembly'

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said it is high time that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asked the governor to dissolve the assembly and hold fresh elections.

"We are asking the PDP and the BJP, since you have failed to form a government in the state during the last two months, it is time you rose above party interest and asked the governor to dissolve the state assembly and hold fresh elections here," Abdullah said.

"After Mufti Muhammad Sayeed passed away, we were told the government would be formed after the fourth day, then it was said it would be formed after the 40th day and then it was said it would be formed after the present parliament session ends," the former chief minister said.

He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a National Conference (NC) youth convention in Srinagar.

Abdullah said the decision by Governor N.N. Vohra to start the process of panchayat and urban bodies elections was an indication that elections were already round the corner in the state.

Dismissing his party's support to the PDP for government formation now, Omar Abdullah said: "We had offered that support to Mufti to keep the BJP out of power in the state."

"It was immediately rejected. Now there is no question of offering such a support when RSS has opened offices at various places, including Srinagar," the National Conference leader added.