NC ‘in touch’ with BJP over govt formation

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 24

Omar Abdullah today left for Delhi to “hold talks with the BJP leaders” on the formation of the next government, despite maintaining that he is adopting a wait- and-watch policy.
This was clear from his observation that he would not make life easy for others to form the government in an apparent reference to keep the PDP out of power.
Omar, after submitting resignation from the post of Chief Minister to Governor NN Vohra, told reporters here that "as a political party he would not make life easy for others to form the government". He specifically referred to 2002, when the NC had not staked claim to form the government despite having 28 seats.
Sources said that Omar and his party were having consultations with BJP leaders in New Delhi. It is in continuation of what the NC and the BJP had done before the results of the Assembly came out on Tuesday.
Omar's arithmetic is simple. With BJP's 25 seats and his party's 15 and the support of six Independents, the numbers add up to 46, two more than the simple majority required in the Assembly. BJP leaders have also made it clear that the NC would be preferred over the PDP.
Omar's offer to the PDP to seek NC's support was a ploy to push Mufti toward extremes.
“Today I am in no mood to make life easy for other parties to form government. Let’s see what happens. I have submitted my resignation and this is not our job to keep anybody in or out of the government,” Omar added.
Despite putting up the worst-ever performance in the Assembly elections, the NC is emerging as a game changer and both the PDP and the BJP are well aware of this.
The NC has remained a part of the BJP-led NDA government earlier. Omar has served as a minister in that government. Omar said the NC was not actively seeking any discussion on alliance and they are not in touch with anybody but he is well aware of the fact that neither the PDP nor the BJP has got decisive mandate and the NC could play a crucial role.
Meanwhile, Omar is flying to London to see his parents who have undergone surgery. “Due to polls I couldn’t see my parents who have undergone surgery. Now I am flying to London to meet them,” Omar said.