July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

NEW DELHI, July 7: Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned on Monday without facing a trust vote in the state assembly, which became necessary when a key ally of the Congress party-led government parted ways recently over his handling of a Hindu pilgrimage to an ancient temple.

Mr Azad’s decision has paved the way for the recently appointed Governor N.N. Vohra to impose New Delhi’s direct rule in the disputed state. Elections are due in there in November and the move to impose direct rule is being seen as a Congress party ploy to influence the course.

Press Trust of India said Mr Azad along with his ministers and MLAs arrived at the newly constructed state Assembly building in Srinagar where other party legislators gathered for the one-day session during which the chief minister was to seek a trust vote.

The 59-year-old Mr Azad in his speech, highlighting the achievement of his government, gave enough indications that it was his farewell address, PTI said. As he ended it Mr Azad requested Speaker Tara Chand to withdraw the confidence motion moved by him at the beginning of his speech.

“I do not wish to put my friends in trouble whose heart is somewhere else and their party whip is somewhere else,” Mr Azad 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,” he said after which he went to Governor N.N. Vohra to submit his resignation. The Governor also held talks with the opposition National Conference President Omar Abdullah, who said his party did not have the numbers to form the government.