Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has set a deadline of July 7 for Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to prove his majority in the 87-member state assembly.
The Azad government was reduced to a minority after the withdrawal of support by key ally Peoples Democratic Party in the coalition, which has 19 members in the assembly.
Responding to a letter by the chief minister on the issue, the governor in a communication to Azad asked him to "prove majority on the floor of the House on any date not later than July 7, 2008, in keeping with established conventions of parliamentary democracy."
Azad has been on record saying that he has the required numbers in the state assembly to prove the majourity.
He expressed confidence that his government would run the full term of six years.
The chief minister on Monday morning offered to prove his majority on the floor of the House any time the governor decides.
In a written communication to the governor, the chief minister had said although he continues to enjoy the support of the majority of members, he was ready to prove it on the floor of the House in keeping with the highest traditions of parliamentary democracy and to dispel any misgivings on this account.
Azad said that following the withdrawal of support to his government by the PDP, a constituent of the ruling coalition, he continues to enjoy the support of majourity of the members and was ready to prove it on the floor of the House any time decided by the governor.
The PDP withdrew from the government, following differences with the chief minister over of the allotment of land to Sri Amarnath Shrine Board.
The PDP had been pressing for the withdrawal of the controversial order and had set a deadline of June 30, but the party decided to withdraw from the coalition two days earlier.
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