Declaring that he was guilty until proven innocent and would not get back to work till his name was cleared, Abdullah strode out of the assembly after an emotional outburst that stunned his party - and political watchers - with the suddenness with which events unfolded.

Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra accepted the resignation of Abdullah, 39, who became the country's youngest chief minister when his National Conference came to power in alliance with the Congress in January this year, and asked him to remain in office till a successor was sworn in.