J-K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad resigns ahead of confidence vote

Jammu, July 7 : Jammu and Kashmir government today fell after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad tendered his resignation ahead of vote of confidence on the floor of the State Assembly, as he didn't have the requisite numbers in the Assembly.

''I do not wish to put my friends in trouble whose heart is somewhere else and their party whip is somewhere else,'' Azad said before driving to Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation.

If the PDP had not issued a whip to its members there was a chance of some members supporting the government. But after the PDP issued a whip it became unlikely. Ghulam Nabi Azad had little alternative, but to resign.

Earlier, in his emotionally charged speech in the Assembly, he said, "I am satisfied with my work. The motive I came with, I have largely achieved it. I don't care who will be the Chief Minister. I don't care whether the government survives or falls. I have shown the way. After spending life in serving the nation and party, I wanted to serve the people of my state. I have worked at a stretch for 20 hours."

Azad's government had been reduced to minority late last month after the PDP withdrew its support over land transfer to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

The term of the State Government was to expire on November 2.

The Congress has 21 members in the 87-member strong Assembly and is backed by two CPM MLAs and eight Independents. The PDP had 18 MLAs and its support was crucial for running the government.

State Governor NN Vohra had summoned a special session of the State Assembly following the withdrawal of support by the PDP.

The PDP, which entered into a power sharing agreement with the Congress and an assortment of Independent MLAs following a hung verdict in 2002 polls, pulled out from the Congress-led government and had withdrawn support to it on June 28.

Earlier, a few days ago, the main Opposition party the National Conference, which has 24 members in the House, had announced that it would not support the State Government. The National Panthers Party, which has four members, too does not enjoy a good relationship with the government after Azad kept its MLAs out of his ministry.

Only a split in either the National Conference or the PDP may save the State Government, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jammu Mukti Morcha are unlikely to support the Congress during the floor test.

ANI