TMC criticises decision to dissolve J&K assembly

The Trinamool Congress criticised the sudden dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Wednesday night and accused the BJP of having no respect for the constitution.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik dissolved the state assembly, which has been in suspended animation, shortly after rival alliances staked claim to form the government.

"The BJP have no respect for the constitution and destroying every institution in the country," TMC national spokesperson and leader of Rajya Sabha parliamentary party Derek O' Brien told PTI.

After governor's rule was clamped in Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had proposed that the National Conference, the Congress and the PDP should come together to form the govt in J&K, a senior TMC leader, who did not wish to be named, said.

Earlier, former chief minister and PDP patron Mehbooba Mufti staked the claim to form a government with the support of the Congress and the National Conference.

Shortly after that, People's Conference leader Sajad Lone also staked claim to form the government with the help of the 25-member BJP.

Jammu and Kashmir is now headed for another spell of central rule beyond December 18 when the governor's rule comes to an end.

Governor's rule was clamped in the state on June 19 for a 6-month period following the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition government after the saffron party withdrew support.

The state assembly was also kept in suspended animation so that political parties could explore the possibility of forming a new government.