Will Vohra continue as governor of Jammu & Kashmir?

As Jammu & Kashmir heads for another round of Governor's Rule, all eyes are on N N Vohra, whose second term in Raj Bhavan ends in the next 10 days, and whether the Centre will give him an extension.

The government has not opened its mind on whether it will want a change in Raj Bhavan, which will be the hub of activities in the coming months.

With the BJP withdrawing support to the PDP and Mehbooba Mufti resigning as chief minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the state and the next steps to be taken. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba were among those present.

While there was no official word on the meeting, sources said the government has given its nod to the security forces to launch intensive operations against militants in the Valley. The Centre had on Sunday decided not to extend the suspension of offensive operations against militants that was in place for a month till Eid on Saturday.

With more security operations against militants in the offing, the Centre may prefer to have a "new man" with a security background in Raj Bhavan. If the government wants Vohra to continue, sources said it will be for a brief period, with some suggesting that the incumbent could continue till the Amarnath Yatra, which is beginning in the last week of June, so as not to disturb the arrangements.

Former home minister P Chidambaram tweeted, "Who the next Governor will be is crucial. A hawk as Governor will make the situation worse."

There has been speculation in the past few months that Vohra (82), a veteran bureaucrat who was appointed by the UPA government in 2008 and given a second term in 2013, may give way to a younger governor with a background in security operations. Mehbooba has been demanding a political person to be appointed as governor.