J&K Gov appoints Advisors as political uncertainty prolongs

With political uncertainty expected to prolong, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today appointed two retired IAS officers as his Advisors to assist him in running the affairs of the state.
The order to appoint the retired civil servants of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre was issued by the Governor today, an official spokesman said.
Dewan, a 1977-batch IAS officer, had taken voluntary retirement on October 20, 2014 after serving as Union Tourism Secretary. He had earlier served as Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir in early 2000s.
A prolific writer, Dewan had taken voluntary retirement to focus on his literary works.

Ganai, a 1982-batch IAS officer, also took premature retirement last year as he was overlooked for the post of Chief Secretary following premature retirement of then incumbent Mohammad Iqbal Khandey.
Ganai has served in various capacities in the state and Union Government including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce Department.

Ganai's last appointment was as Chairman, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), a post declared equivalent in status to the IAS cadre post of Chief Secretary for the period till his term ended.
The appointment of the Advisors by the Governor comes as the political uncertainty in the state is expected to continue with no party staking claim to form the government after the demise of then Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed on January 7.

Vohra had on February 2 invited PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and BJP state president Sat Pal Sharma for clarifying their stand on government formation in the state but both put the onus on each other.
Mehbooba, who is seen as the successor to her father as the Chief Minister, has set a slew of conditions for the BJP government at the Centre before she could take steps to form the government.
The state was put under Governor's Rule on January 8, a day after death of Sayeed.
PDP, with 27 MLAs in the 87-member Assembly and BJP with25 legislators, ran a coalition government headed by Sayeed for 10months before his demise on January 7.