Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has been put under Governor's Rule for the seventh time since Independence and, ironically, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was an important player on all the occasions which led to the imposition of Central rule in the state.
Sayeed's death was the cause for the latest promulgation of the Governor Rule, which was imposed seventh time yesterday after allies, PDP and BJP deferred the government formation process till the end of the four-day mourning period.
The PDP parton died at AIIMS hospital in Delhi on Thursday.
Invoking Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N N Vohra yesterday promulgated Governor's Rule in the state with effect from January 8 after approval by President Pranab Mukherjee.
It was also the seventh time Governor's Rule has been promulgated in the state since Independence, the first being in March 1977.
Ironically, Sayeed was an important player in the political developments of the state on all seven occasions.
Governor's Rule was imposed in the state on March 26, 1977 after state Congress then headed by Sayeed withdrew support to the minority government of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah of National Conference.
Sheikh has come to the power following an accord with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
The Governor's Rule lasted for 105 days and ended as the National Conference founder returned to power with a thumping majority in the Assembly polls.
Governor's Rule was imposed second time in March 1986 after state Congress again headed by Sayeed withdrew support to the minority Government of Ghulam Mohammad Shah.
Shah became the Chief Minister after he led a rebellion with National Conference against his brother-in-law and then incumbent Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in 1984.
This 246-day spell ended after Abdullah entered into an accord of his own with then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The third time Governor's Rule was imposed in January 1990 when Farooq Abdullah resigned as the Chief Minister over the appointment of Jagmohan Malhotra as the state Governor following eruption of militancy in the state.
Sayeed was the Union Home Minister at that time and had brushed aside Abdullah's opposition to Mahotra's appointment.
