Despite of high tension and bloodshed of the past three decades or so elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have been held regularly after a break of 1990-1996. As no elections could be held in the state during the beginning of the turmoil in the state. People have time and again, participated in those elections and elected public representatives and governments of their choice. Hoping that their day today problems will be resolved overnight. But sooner or later they get disillusioned and distance themselves from these elected representative and governments, for one or the other reason. Then they keep switching their loyalties to the governor whosever may be in the office. May be because they sooner or later get fed up because of terrible mis-governance, brazen faced nepotism, rampant corruption, lack of job opportunities and basic amenities etc.
For the last four decades, the state has so far come under governor’s rule as many as eight times. Out of which four times during the tenure of the present governor N.N.Vohra, first ever civilian governor of the state after Jagmohan. Consecutive three times in the last four years time no doubt for comparatively shorter durations. But this time round, it may last for a longer period of time than the last two terms that is at least till the parliamentary elections are held in the year 2019.
Governor’s rule for the first time was imposed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 1977 then in the year 1986, 1990, 2002, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. First time in the year 1977 it was promulgated as Congress withdrew its support to the government led by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah installed in the state after Indira-Abdullah accord of 1975, second time round in the year 1986 when Dr. Farooq Abdulah was ousted from the power by none else than his own brother in law, G.M.Shah. Third time in the year 1990 when militancy broke out in the valley which lasted for over six years and seven months when the elections were held and Farooq Abdullah had returned to power with an overwhelming majority.
Jammu and Kashmir is the only state where the state can be put under the governor’s rule under the provisions of S.92 of the Constitution of J&K to begin with and which can be extended beyond a period of six month by imposition of direct president’s rule as provided under the provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India, up to a period of seven years. However as far as other states are concerned, the same are directly put under the president’s rule in terms of the same provision of the Constitution of India, up to a period of 5 years only.
Jammu and Kashmir is not the only state which has more than often come under the president’s/governor’s rule but the state of Uttar Pradesh has been put under the president’s rule around 10 times followed by the state of Punjab 8 times. The state of Punjab has been under presidents rule for as many as 10 years while as J&K has been under the governor’s rule for a period of about 8 years.
The governor may not have a magic wand in his hand to turn everything around but the situation may change for better if he is given a free hand and no political interference is allowed in the running of day to day affairs of the government. All mainstream political parties have already extended their full support and cooperation to the governor. He has been here for the last 10 years now and has got a deep understanding about the overall political scenario prevalent in the state. He knows inside and outside of the bureaucracy very well and has always maintained close liaison with all the stake holders. But he has got little time left to give a right direction to the otherwise stagnant and lethargic administration though his term has been extended by three months so he may have to make room for a new incumbent to take his place. Possibility of installation of new government by breaking up of other political parties headed by a leader more acceptable to the BJP are far from grim as all the leading parties are opposed to any such move or kind of horse trading and have already made up their respective stands clear on this issue and the anti defection law in place in the state.
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