'Will stake claim for govt formation once ...': Omar Abdullah elected as leader of legislature party after J&K polls

NEW DELHI: Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed his gratitude to the National Conference (NC) legislators for selecting him as their leader, enabling him to stake claim to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir.
"You are aware of the decision that was taken. A meeting of the NC legislature party took place, the legislature party has decided its leader and I am thankful from the bottom of my heart to the NC legislators that they have reposed their faith in me and given me a chance to stake claim for government formation," Abdullah said to reporters after being elected as the leader of the legislature party.
He mentioned that four out of the seven Independent MLAs have pledged their support to the NC, increasing the party's strength to 46 members.
Abdullah said, "Talks are on with the Congress. They have been given a day to decide. Once they give us a letter of support, I will stake claim for government formation."
In the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, the NC has emerged as the single-largest party, securing 42 seats. The party holds a comfortable majority in the 95-member Assembly, as its alliance partners, the Congress and CPI(M), have won six seats and one seat, respectively.