In a major political development in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) has secured the support of 4 independent MLAs, allowing the party to reach the majority mark in the 90-member assembly without needing the backing of the Congress.
With this new alliance, the NC now commands the support of 46 lawmakers, surpassing the required majority of 45 to form the government in the Union Territory. As a result, Omar Abdullah is set to become the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to the media following his unanimous election as the leader of the NC legislature party, Omar Abdullah said, “Today in the meeting of the National Conference Legislature Party, I have been elected as the leader of the Legislature Party. I express my gratitude to the MLAs. Talks are going on to get the letter of support from the Congress. Four independent MLAs have also extended their support to the National Conference. Now the number of NC is 42 plus 4 independent MLAs. After receiving the letter from Congress, we will go to the Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form the government.”
The decision to elect Omar Abdullah as the party’s leader was made during a meeting held at NC’s headquarters, the ‘Nawa-e-Subha’ complex in Srinagar, on Thursday. The party is expected to stake its claim to form the government soon.
Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah’s father and veteran NC leader, had already indicated that Omar would be the new chief minister after the election results were announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
This latest development strengthens the National Conference’s position and marks a significant moment in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. With the support of independents, Omar Abdullah can now move forward without relying on Congress, providing a stable platform for the party to govern the region.
