Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor G C Saxena said he had imposed the federal rule in the state as the political situation did not crystallise enough to enable him to identify a party or group of parties that could provide a stable government.

"I feel that every effort was made to avoid the imposition of Governor's Rule but circumstances arose where it became inescapable," Saxena said.

He said that the doors for formation of the government will remain open beyond October 21, the deadline given to political parties to stake their claim to form a government before the term of the outgoing Assembly expired.

"Now the situation is that I invite the major political parties for second round of talks," he said adding that he was not sure how long the Governor's Rule would remain in force.

"It can be a short period ... It can be a longer period," Saxena said.

Putting the onus on the political parties for forming a Democratic government, he said, "If the stalemate continues after the second round of talks, it will be for them to get their act together."

About the reason behind the imposition of Governor's Rule, he said the refusal of Farooq Abdullah not to continue as care-taker Chief Minister after October 17, when the term of the outgoing Assembly expired, "created a situation of breakdown of Constitutional machinery".

"It was not feasible to swear in a Chief Minister within the next three or four hours and since no claim was pending, I had to initiate action for Governor's Rule under Section 92 of the J&K Constitution," he said.

Saxena said as long as Governor's Rule was in force in the state, the administration, which was pre-occupied with the four-phased elections, would try to address the problems of the people.

"The administration has started functioning fully to give relief to the people till the time they get their government. People will not be allowed to suffer," he added. He hoped the wishes and the verdict of the people would be respected and an elected government formed at the earliest.

Asked whether he would invite the single largest party to form the government, Saxena said, "There was no Constitutional obligation to invite the single largest party if it did not command a majority in the Assembly."

"It should command a majority or be able to win the vote of confidence in the Assembly and I should be satisfied that the government formed is most likely to survive the vote of confidence," he added.

The administration reviewed the security situation and took stock of internal and border security in the state, he said.

The meeting, which was attended by top civil, police, paramilitary and Army officials, also assessed the political developments in the neighbouring country, he said adding, "Cross-border infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC) was continuing."

To a question whether he would invite Congress which claimed support of 41 members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), he said there was no Constitutional provision that one has to invite the largest party or the group. "This is something I have to satisfy myself," he added.

Asked whether he would go strictly by the halfway mark of 44 in the 87-member House, he said there was no hard and fast rule in this regard.

On the ground situation in the state, he said as the two elected representatives from Ladakh have ruled out support to any party, the total strength as far as majority calculation virtually comes down to 85.

Saxena began his press conference by dwelling on the success of the Assembly elections in the state and congratulated the voters for braving bullets and threats to participate in the elections.

He also lauded the candidates for participating in the elections despite the killing of two contestants and bids on the lives of many others.

Praising the security forces for providing a secure environment for the conduct of polls, Saxena said, "I salute the memory of those personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties."

The election commission also came in for some plaudits from the Governor for organising visibly free, fair and transparent elections as did the state administration and police for their assistance to the commission.

"The election commission did a wonderful job. The commission's observers, who in risky conditions, moved around and ensured free, fair and transparent polls," Saxena said.

He also praised the polling staff from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab for doing their job beautifully.

Saxena also appreciated the media for its largely fair coverage of the election process.

He also praised diplomats of foreign countries for projecting the fairness and transparency of polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

PTI