Dissolve JK assembly; prepare ground for fresh elections: Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has favoured dissolution of the state assembly so that horse trading is put to rest and all the political parties prepare the ground for fresh elections.

The National Conference leader, however, hoped that Governor's rule would stay for some time "so that some stability returns" to the state.

"I think one of the good things is Governor's rule right now in the state. The focus now is on development and he (N N Vohra) has been able to give a solid administration which is unbiased...at the same time he wants peace to return to the state and is taking measures to see that people are not harassed unnecessarily," Abdullah, a Lok Sabha member, said during an interview here to PTI.

In reply to a question about the governor administration preparing the ground for holding panchayat and municipal elections, Abdullah said it was a good development.

"Let them prepare the ground for this, then political parties will decide for themselves whether they are ready or not. First the ground needs to be prepared," he said.

About the reports of formation of an alternative government in the state, Abdullah said, "I think immediately after the BJP withdrew the support, the normal process must be that the state assembly is dissolved to hit the chances of horse trading or otherwise that will effect the democratic institutions in the state," averred Abdullah.

"Therefore, the quicker the assembly is dissolved, the quicker the people can prepare themselves for the future elections," he said.

The BJP pulled out of the alliance government with the PDP on June 19, forcing Mehbooba Mufti to resign as chief minister of the state.

Abdullah, who has been chief minister of the state on three earlier occasions including the worst period of militancy between 1996 and 2002, did not agree with Mehbooba Mufti's statement that if Delhi attempted to break her party, militancy would increase.

"As far as her statement that more militants will be created is concerned, it is not absolutely correct. But at the same time, I must say that if horse trading is done, the electorate will loose hope of ever having there own representatives running the state and I quite agree that this practice is bad for democracy. The only answer is fresh elections," he said.

Asked whether the BJP's decision to pull out was right, Abduallh said, "I think after seeing the situation going from bad to worse and polarisation growing at a faster rate between the two divisions of the state, the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had no other way out but to request his party to withdraw the support."