By News Agency of Kashmir,
Srinagar : As the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, NN Vohra today asked the chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to prove majority of his government by July 7 the number game has begun in the political corridors of power. Amid the secret parlays to collect the requisite numbers, National Conference and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party have categorically said no to the support, while CPI (M) is likely to back Azad government in the House.
Jammu and Kashmir state legislative assembly has a total of 87 seats in the J&K Assembly out of which the Congress has 22. The PDP has 18 members in the House, but its recent withdrawal of support from the government has plunged the government into a minority.
The coalition has the support of eight independent MLAs and two CPM legislators. Azad needs 44 seats to prove his majority in the House which does not seems to be an easy task for him as far now.
Opposition members including PDP and JKNPP have 46 seats in the state legislative assembly, while the Congress will face short of four to five seats to prove its majority in the House.
According to a Raj Bhavan spokesman, the Governor in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister has asked him to prove majority on the Floor of the House on any date not later than July 7, 2008 in keeping with established conventions of parliamentary democracy.
Sources told News Agency of Kashmir that despite assertion by the chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that he has requisite numbers in the House, proving majority for him will not be a cake walk.
They said that Congress leaders including Azad have geared up for collect the requisite numbers and several rounds of `secret talks’ were also going on with some rebel PDP leaders and National Conference.
Well informed sources told News Agency of Kashmir that only CPI (M), which hold its state level committee meeting, here today, is likely to extend outside support to the government. However, situation may be different in case the party withdraws its support to Congress lead UPA government in the center.
The situation has turned tough for Azad after its former ally JKNPP categorically refused to back the government.
As per the party sources National conference President Omar Abdullah made it clear that his party will not support the Congress government.
Omar, who met Governor Jammu and Kashmir N.N. Vohra alongwith Abdul Rahim Rather, asked the later to call assembly session so as to test the majority of the government.
The decision not to support the government was taken in a two days legislative party meeting of the party, which concluded here today.
Azad is not reportedly backing on the PDP rebel leaders Ghulam Hassan Mir, Sarfaraz Khan, Ghulam Hassan Khan. However, the strong anti-defection law was proving a blockade in the process.
Observers believe that the rebel PDP leaders may not be able to support the government in view of the provision that the elected leader of any party can take action against the rebel leader under Anti Defection Law.
However, observers believe, that Congress has one last option left with it. “In case some members refrain from voting or absented themselves from the House the Congress may easily prove its majority in the House”, observed a political expert.