Governor Malik said he had acted in the state's interest and according to its constitution.
Defending his decision to dissolve the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Governor Satya Pal Malik today claimed "extensive horse-trading" was going on and it would have been impossible for parties with "opposing political ideologies" to form a stable government.
Governor Malik said he had acted in the state's interest and according to its constitution.
He dismissed allegations that he was acting on the Centre's directions and said had this been the case, their side (BJP, People's Conference) would have been called for government formation.
The governor said that those who wanted to move to the court, could do so.
"For the past 15 to 20 days, I have been getting reports of large-scale horse trading. MLAs are being threatened and several types of underhanded dealings are going on," Governor Malik told reporters at Raj Bhawan in Jammu.
"Mehbooba ji told me a week before that her MLAs were being threatened through the National Investigative Agency. Another side said MLAs were being lured with large-scale money. Horse trading had started 20 days ago," he claimed.
"Had I given any side opportunity (for government formation), it would have created more mess. The value system of politics would have been destroyed as is been happening in the rest of the states. I could not afford that," the governor said.
He said it would have been impossible for parties with "opposing political ideologies" to form a stable government.
"We would have altered this situation, had we given an unstable government (to the state). An opportunist government would have been the outcome of this process. We never wanted instability in a sensitive state," Governor Malik said.
He said the NC, PDP and Congress would have fought with each other and it would have created a mess.
Governor Malik said the stability that was in place today in the state was due to the hard work of the armed forces.
"I have no personal interest and for me the interest of the state is prime. For that, I acted and dissolved the assembly as per the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. It was the best action as per my wisdom and I have not been partial," he said.
The governor said when he came to the state he had made his stand clear that he would not be involved in any underhanded dealing or defection and would not approve government formation on the basis of threat.
He said he wanted polls to be held and an elected government formed. He said he wanted the stand in court to be that only an elected government be allowed to function.
He hit out at the PDP and the NC, claiming they had told him that they had a majority but he was not given any proof for it. No list was given and no parade of MLAs took place, Governor Malik said.
He claimed that the attempt at government formation was of forces which did not want polls to be held in the state.
The governor said they should be happy now that the assembly had been dissolved as this was what they wanted.
He said the Election Commission would decide on the Assembly elections.
Yesterday was Eid, he said when asked about the fax not working in the Raj Bhavan, resulting in his office not receiving the PDP's letter staking claim to form government as well as the NC's letter of support.
Both NC's Omar Abullah and PDP's Mehbooba Mufti should know that offices are closed that day, he said.
The governor abruptly dissolved the state assembly yesterday night, hours after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival NC and the Congress.
This was followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.