Azad's handling of the land-transfer issue has sparked statewide protests [EPA]

Ghulam Nabi Azad, the chief minister, resigned on Monday after weeks of protests over the transfer of land to a Hindu shrine trust.

Thousands of Muslims in the province protested against the move, which they called an effort to alter the region's demographics.

On July 1, the government revoked the land-transfer order, which defused tensions in predominantly Muslim Kashmir's capital Srinagar but led to more violent protests in Jammu, a Hindu-majority area.

At least six people were killed and hundreds wounded in the protests.

The withdrawal of support from an alliance partner also played a role.

No confidence

On June 28, the land transfer controversy prompted the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw support for the government, reducing Azad's Congress-led government to a minority.

"I do not wish to put my friends in trouble whose heart is somewhere else and their party whip is somewhere else," Azad said after failing to win the confidence vote in state assembly and before tendering his resignation to the state governor.

The state, in India's northeast corner, will be administered by the governor until elections are held in four months.

Omar Abdullah, president of the opposition National Conference, said his party "will not stake a claim to form the government".

"We need to get into campaigning mode and predicting any post-poll alliance at this point of time will be premature," he said.

Record protests

The Kashmir region, which is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both, has experienced some of the largest anti-India demonstrations in nearly two decades.

On Saturday, thousands of protesters clashed with police over allegations that government forces set fire to a local Muslim shrine.

Police denied any involvement with the fire at the shine, which was partially damaged.

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