BJP wants governor's rule to continue in Kashmir: Ram Madhav
Srinagar, July 7 : BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday ruled out any possibility of the BJP stitching an alliance with disgruntled PDP legislators to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We are for continuing with Governor's Rule in the interest of peace, governance and development in the state," Madhav tweeted.
Madhav's remarks came amid speculation that the BJP and its partner, former secessionist Sajad Lone's Peoples Conference, were engineering a political coup in the PDP and get support of its rebel MLAs.
At least five rebel PDP lawmakers in the state have openly spoken against former Chief Minister and party President Mehbooba Mufti.
With speculation of a new political alignment flying thick and fast, former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in a tweet asked Madhav about reports that the BJP's state had confessed to being party to the efforts to break the BJP.
"Power at any cost would seem to be the guiding philosophy," Abdullah took a jibe at Madhav and the BJP.
In response, Madhav wrote it was "not true".
"I will certainly check with the state unit and ensure that the BJP keeps itself scrupulously out of whatever is happening in other parties in the valley."
Mathematical arrangements in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly are stacked in no party's favour.
In the house, which has been kept under suspended animation, the PDP has 28 MLAs. The BJP has 25 and enjoys support of two legislators from Sajad Lone-led Peoples Conference and one legislator from Ladakh.
For any party to stake claim to form a government, it would require support of 44 lawmakers.
The state's anti-defection law is tougher as compared to others. The number of legislators who defect from a party without being disqualified should be two-third of the party's total strength in the House.
In such a situation, the number of those walking out of the PDP need to be at least 18 to avoid disqualification.
Also, the anti-defection law also empowers House leader of a legislative party a final say about disqualifying the defectors. The speaker cannot challenge the decision.
But it is the speaker who notifies and issues a bulletin disqualifying the members.
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Integrity of electoral process severely compromised, Cong to soon launch movement: CWC
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress Working Committee met here on Friday and adopted a resolution alleging the integrity of the entire electoral process was being severely compromised against which the party would soon launch a movement.
In the resolution of the top body of the Congress, the party said free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that was being called into "serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission".
The CWC, which met amid the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, said the session has been a washout so far because of the Narendra Modi government's "stubborn refusal" to have an immediate discussion on three pressing national issues -- "the recent revelations regarding corruption by a business group, and the violence in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal".
Asked why the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution does not name the business group, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "The answer is the Adani group".
"The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission.
"Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take these up these public concerns as a national movement," the resolution stated.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Ramesh and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, party general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party discussed the political situation in the country for four-and-half hours and adopted the resolution.
He said the CWC has decided to constitute internal committees to look into electoral performance and organisational matters.
About the Assembly polls results in Maharashtra, Venugopal said the electoral outcome in the state was "beyond normal understanding and it appears to be a clear case of targeted manipulation".
