Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Thursday set into motion the process of government formation by ‘unanimously’ electing its Vice President Omar Abdullah as leader of the legislative party. The announcement was made by the senior Abdullah and party chief Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
Addressing the media after the National Conference MLAs met at its headquarters to elect the leader of the legislature party Dr Farooq Abdullah stated that the pre-poll alliance partners (National Conference, Congress, CPI-M, Panthers Party) will meet on Friday to take the government formation process forward.
Omar Abdullah thanked the National Conference (NC) legislators for electing him their leader so that he could stake claim to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“You are aware of the decision that was taken. A meeting of the NC legislature party took place, the legislature party has decided on its leader and I am thankful from the bottom of my heart to the NC legislators that they have reposed their faith in me and given me a chance to stake a claim for government formation,” Abdullah told reporters after he was elected the leader of the legislature party here.
On the question of the timing of the government formation, Omar said, “Talks are on with the Congress. They have been given a day to decide. Once they give us a letter of support, I will stake a claim for government formation.”
In another significant development, four independents (all from the Jammu region) expressed their support to the National Conference on Thursday. Pyare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Choudhary Mohammed Akram, and Dr Rameshwar Singh - who won the Inderwal, Chhamb, Surankote, and Bani seats - have backed the NC.
“Now our number is 42 plus the four independent MLAs. After receiving the letter from the Congress, we will go to the Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form the government,” Omar added.
Inside reports suggested that the National Conference may go ahead and stake claim for government formation on Friday even in the absence of a letter of support from the Congress party. In a house of 90 members, NC along with independent candidates has magic numbers in its kitty. Political observers opined Congress has been relegated from a junior partner in the incoming Jammu and Kashmir government to a relative non-entity after four independent MLAs extended support to the National Conference.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday accused the NC and CPI(M) of indulging in hooliganism after victory in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti congratulated the NC on its victory and the party vice president Omar Abdullah on his election as the legislature party leader but questioned whether the huge majority was for hooliganism and destruction of properties.
“The NC’s elected MLA from Srigufwara-Bijbehara (Bashir Veeri) is indulging in hooliganism. His workers destroyed the outer walls of the houses of PDP workers, and a cowshed belonging to a PDP worker was also burnt. I want to question Omar Abdullah whether the huge majority they got was for this,” she said.
Iltija Mufti lost the election seat to Veeri in the recently held J&K Assembly polls.
She alleged the NC workers were harassing women workers of the PDP and using foul language against them.
“I do not mind if they abuse me or Mehbooba Mufti, but do not touch our workers. Then we will take action,” she added.
