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Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena said today the complex political situation necessitated imposition of Governor8217;s rule....

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena said today the complex political situation necessitated imposition of Governor8217;s rule. But the doors for formation of a new government, however, will remain open 8216;8216;even beyond October 218217;8217;, he said.

He said that morality apart, Farooq Abdullah had no constitutional constraints to continuing as caretaker CM. The comment has kicked off a debate whether Farooq8217;s decision was 8216;8216;politically8217;8217; motivated 8212; coming as it did during a stalemate over government formation 8212; or bore the stamp of constitutional propriety. Saxena was talking to reporters at Raj Bhavan.

8216;8216;Every effort,8217;8217; Saxena said, 8216;8216;was made to avoid imposition of Governor8217;s rule. 8216;8216;I think he Farooq could have continued but he cited moral grounds as the reason. Otherwise, there were no constitutional constraints.8217;8217; Advisors haven8217;t been appointed yet because the situation is unfolding, he said.

The leaders of all the three major parties 8212; National Conference, Congress and PDP 8212; were invited to discuss the possibilities of forming a government, he said. 8216;8216;Unfortunately, the situation didn8217;t crystallise enough to help me identify the party, or group of parties, that could command a majority in the Assembly or form a stable government.8217;8217; The parties would be invited for a second round of talks.

Saxena said he had no clue right now how long Governor8217;s rule would continue. 8216;8216;It could be for a short period, it could be longer. And if the stalemate continues after the second round of talks, it would be for them parties to get their act together.8217;8217;

This is the fourth time Governor8217;s rule has been imposed on J-K. The first was on March 26, 1977, when Congress withdrew support to NC. Nine years later, on March 7, the act was repeated after Congress withdrew support to the Ghulam Muhammad Shah government.

On January 19, 1990, CM Farooq Abdullah resigned to protest against Jagmohan8217;s appointment as Governor, triggering the third spell.