Won't lose my job, but facing threat of transfer: J-K Governor

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik, who dissolved the state assembly last week, has said that he would not lose the gubernatorial job, but he is also facing the "threat of transfer."

Speaking at a function here on Tuesday, Malik said, "Transfer is not in one's hands. I will not lose my job but the threat of transfer remains."

At a function in Gwalior on November 24, Malik had said that if "he had looked to Delhi, he would have had to install a government led by Sajjad Lone and would have become a dishonest man forever." His remarks had drawn flak from various political parties.

The Governor had dissolved the Assembly late on November 21 night, hours after arch-rivals the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) joined hands with the Congress Party and staked their claim to form the government in the state. The three-way alliance claimed to have the numbers to form the government.

Hours later, the Governor dissolved the Assembly. PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that she tried to fax the letter to the Governor, claiming to form the government, but could not do so. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed People's Conference chief Sajjad Lone had also staked claim to form the government but he too failed to fax his letter to the Governor's office.

Defending his decision to dissolve the state Assembly, the Governor said that he did not want the formation of a government by the 'unholy alliance.' "These are the forces that are against democracy at the grass root level. Once they felt that the situation was slipping out of their hands, they formed an unholy alliance to form the government," Malik told ANI.

A Raj Bhawan spokesperson also said that Malik acted in an objective and impartial manner while making his decision to dissolve the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Jammu and Kashmir has been under the President's Rule since June when the BJP withdrew its support to the alliance partner PDP.