Leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Legislative party Omar Abdullah Friday evening staked claim to form the government, the first since the Centre scrapped J&K's special status in 2019. 

Omar, dressed in a traditional salwar suit, drove to the Raj Bhawan to meet Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. During the meeting, he formally presented his claim to form the government in Jammu & Kashmir, following the support from Congress. Omar also presented letters of support from the alliance partners and independent candidates.

Briefing media persons after meeting the Lieutenant Governor, CM designate Omar Abdullah said the oath ceremony is likely to take place on October 16. "There are certain formalities which are there to be followed and I have been informed it will take two to three days to complete the same. I am hoping the swearing-in ceremony can take place on October 16," he said.

Before visiting Raj Bhawan, a three-member delegation of senior Congress leaders, including AICC in-charge Jammu and Kashmir BharatSinh Solanki, also gave him a letter of support formally extending their support to form the alliance government at his Gupkar Road residence. JKPCC Chief Tariq Hamid Karra and newly elected MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir were also present on the occasion.

After stepping out of the residence of Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Tariq Hamid Karra told media persons , "We have given the letter of support to Omar Abdullah and he will meet the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and will stake claim to form the government".

The Congress leaders, however, maintained they would have a detailed discussion with the National Conference leadership to decide the contours of the governance model."We have no demands. We are supporting the National Conference for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The elected legislators of the Congress party also authorised the party's high command to elect the leader of the Congress Legislative party on Friday.

Meanwhile, the National Conference tally has further gone up to 48 as two more newly elected legislators extended their support to the party. On Friday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that it will extend support to the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) after the NC-Congress alliance emerged victorious in the recently concluded assembly election in the Union Territory.Four Independents extended their support to the party on Thursday. The formal letter of support has been submitted to the Lt Governor by the party.

Thanamandi-winning candidate Muzaffar Iqbal Khan also officially extended his support to JKNC on Friday. He was felicitated by the VP & JKNC Chief Ministerial candidate, Omar Abdullah at Gupkar.