India

The BJP on Tuesday invoked "national interest" to pull down the Mehbooba Mufti government in Jammu and Kashmir, and government sources indicated a plan for an "all-out" security offensive in the Valley to set the tone for the upcoming general election.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday that Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian will be leaving the finance ministry because of “pressing family commitments” and will return to the US. 

In dumping the Mehbooba Mufti-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP has effectively grabbed sole control of the state. Governor's rule means New Delhi henceforth dictates terms and effects measures.

The government has shelved a plan to sell a 76 per cent stake in ailing state-owned carrier Air India due to lack of interest from bidders and the airline is now reviewing its funding needs to remain competitive, a government official said on Wednesday.

Outgoing chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday lost her crown and her face as well.

The Congress alleged on Tuesday that the BJP had ruined Kashmir and "run away" in its desperation to shift the entire blame on to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and argued that the "unnatural" alliance was doomed to meet a disastrous end.

National Conference vice-president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said there was no question of any alliance with the People's Democratic Party, and that the overture of 2014 had been a "one-time offer".

The BJP drew flak from other parties for pulling out of the government in Jammu and Kashmir, with many accusing it of betrayal, opportunism, political failure and being "anti-national".

National security adviser Ajit Doval drove to BJP chief Amit Shah's Akbar Road residence on Tuesday morning hours before the party announced its divorce with Jammu and Kashmir ally Mehbooba Mufti.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called off his eight-day sit-in at lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal's office and several IAS officers, including the chief secretary, held meetings with AAP ministers.