National Conference Offers to Support PDP in Government Formation: 10 Developments

"JKNC_ has written to Gov. Vohra sahib reiterating our offer of support to @jkpdp & asking him to call us before deciding assembly viability," Mr Abdullah tweeted on Tuesday evening.

Reacting to the offer from Mr Abdullah, the PDP has said it had informal channels of communication open with all parties. "If assuming power was the only priority we could have done that. But, our priority is peace. For us all options are open. But, we want to work out a deal that works for the people of Jammu and Kashmir the best," said PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar.

Last week, Governor's Rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after political parties failed to stitch up an alliance that could stake claim to form government and Mr Abdullah, 41, asked to be relieved as caretaker Chief Minister, 17 days after election results were declared.

Jammu and Kashmir delivered a fractured verdict in state elections last month, with no party getting a majority at a minimum 44 seats in the 87-member house. None has staked claim yet to form government.

Regional party PDP has won 28 seats and the BJP came in second with 25 seats. Both parties have been trying since to find partners to form the government. They have also held discussions with each other on a possible tie-up.

National Conference has 15 MLAs while the Congress has 12. The PDP will require the support of at least two more legislators if it accepts the National Conference offer.

The two parties have traditionally been bitter rivals battling for the same space in the Kashmir Valley. Mr Adbullah had seemed to bowl a googly when he had offered support to the PDP soon after results were declared.

The PDP had earlier said that a 'grand alliance' consisting of the PDP, Congress and National Conference was 'also an option'.

A new government is required to be constituted in the state before January 19 when the term of the current Assembly expires.

In 2002, Farooq Abdullah, Omar's father, had asked the then Governor GC Saxena to relieve him of the charge of caretaker CM as the PDP and Congress took time in stitching up numbers to form a coalition the government.