National Conference Thursday blamed the governor's administration for what it called "relentless attacks" on working of the state and its autonomous institutions, according to a party statement.
Ali Muhammad Sagar, the NC's general secretary said in the statement that the governor's administration was "undermining" the democratic processes and had "embarked on a mission to change the existing state laws which should have been the exclusive domain of a democratically-elected government."
"Legally speaking, state Governor has the power to change state laws but he has no popular mandate to make far-reaching changes in our institutions. The recent SAC decision approving amendments in J&K municipal Act is a case in point where (unlike earlier) elections to the post of mayor will be done through a secret ballot," Sagar said.
"What compelled the governor's administration to bring such drastic changes which has no precedence in our system?" he asked, adding: "Even in the Legislative Assembly we have moved to open voting for Rajya Sabha and MLC elections. Same is the case with elections to country's President and Vice President also which do not have a secret ballot as such. As per norms, the voter shows his or her ballot paper to the election agent concerned."
The NC general secretary said the governor's administration should focus more on security related issues of the state.
"Our state is going through very tough times with everyday killings, maiming, CASOs, night raids, arrests becoming the order of the day," Sagar said, according to the statement.
"Dealing with the ground situation and ensuring a sense of security among people here must be Governor's first priority. He should see himself as the care-taker first and focus more on facilitating a peaceful environment in the state."
Sagar said that bringing about drastic changes in the administrative setup was "completely uncalled for."
"It belittles the value of our institutions and demeans the very basis of our democratic setup. Obliterating the transparency in our institutions is something that will have far-reaching consequences."
The NC leader said it was "highly unbecoming of the incumbent governor's administration" to challenge the "veracity of the state's political set up."
"Governor says he hasn't come with any political agenda but his actions speak otherwise. It seems that those who are hell bent to destroy the socio-political set up of our state are dictating terms to state administration," the NC leader alleged.
The statement quoted Sagar as saying that the recently-concluded urban local body elections should serve as an eye opener.
"It seems that they are willingly ignoring the ground realities in Kashmir which will inevitably have serious repercussions on our state. It's therefore time for the powers that be to accept the ground realities and start addressing them. If they continue to dismiss the genuine concerns expressed by our party from time to time, then the situation is going to get murkier."
Sagar said that although his party stayed away from these elections, the "brazen fiddling with the state's institutions is uncalled for."
