The chief minister of Indian-administered Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has offered to resign ahead of a vote of confidence in his government.
His administration was reduced to a minority 10 days ago after a coalition partner, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), withdrew its support.
The PDP pulled out after angry protests by Kashmiri Muslims against a decision to transfer land to a Hindu shrine.
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Mr Azad announced his decision to quit in the state's summer capital, Srinagar.
Addressing the state assembly, the chief minister said he was going to the Raj Bhavan [state governor's house] to hand in his resignation.
Elections are due in Indian-administered Kashmir, the country's only Muslim majority state, in October.
Violent protests
The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says the governor has the option of imposing federal rule in the state or asking Mr Azad to continue as the caretaker chief minister until fresh elections are held and a new government is elected.
The governor had asked Mr Azad to prove his majority in the house after the PDP pulled out of the government.
The Kashmir valley witnessed days of violent protests in recent weeks following the government's decision to grant 40 hectares of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.
Muslims argued the move was aimed at altering the demographic balance in the valley.
The state government later rescinded its decision - which led to protests by Hindus in the state's Hindu-majority region of Jammu.
Demonstrations later spread to other parts of India, with hard-line Hindu groups accusing the Kashmir government of giving in to the demands of separatists.
Last Thursday four people died in Indore, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, when police opened fire during clashes between Hindus and Muslims over the issue, officials say.
(BBC)
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