National Conference MLAs to Choose Legislature Party Leader Tomorrow: Omar Abdullah

Newly-elected National Conference (NC) legislators will meet on Thursday to choose their legislature party leader, NC vice president Omar Abdullah announced on Wednesday, following the vote count in Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah confirmed the meeting will take place at 12:30 PM. He added that after selecting the NC leader, the alliance partners will also meet to elect their leader for the House. Once decided, the alliance will approach the lieutenant governor to request a time for the swearing-in ceremony. Abdullah expressed hope that the new government will be formed in the coming days.

Out of 90 assembly seats, the NC contested 51, while Congress, its ally, contested 32 seats. The remaining seats were given to CPI(M) and Panthers Party. In five constituencies, Congress and NC had a friendly contest. The NC emerged as the single-largest party with 42 wins, including two seats won by Omar Abdullah. The BJP followed with 29 seats. The alliance, with 49 seats, comfortably crossed the majority mark of 46.

Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, is expected to be chosen as the legislature party leader, positioning him to likely return as chief minister.

For its first assembly polls in a decade, Jammu and Kashmir polled on September 18, 25, and October 1.