The National Conference party has written to the governor of Jammu and Kashmir over extending support to People's Democratic Party (PDP), which won the maximum number of seats in the assembly polls, for government formation.
The PDP emerged as the single largest party in the state bagging 28 seats in the 87-member legislature, brightening its chances of forming a coalition government.
The National Conference, which ruled the state before elections, recorded its worst performance winning only 15 seats in the 87-member legislature.
The state was brought under Governor's rule on Friday after political parties failed to cobble up an alliance to form the government, more than two weeks after the elections which threw a hung legislature.
Soon after the results of the state assembly elections were announced on December 23 last year, the NC had on several occasions expressed its intent to support PDP. However, this is the first time that NC has officially extended its support to PDP.
"The working president of the National Conference has written a letter to the honourable Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, N.N. Vohra, informing him that we have offered our support to the PDP and it is because of PDP's indecisiveness that there is a political impasse and before taking any decision on the future of the present assembly or its viability to form the government, we should be consulted," said NC leader Davinder Rana.
Meanwhile, PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said that the party was yet to take a call on NC's offer.
"Now that they have extended support to us formally as they have written to the governor, we will certainly take a call on that," said Akhtar.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in talks with PDP but could not make any headway. BJP came a close second to PDP by winning 25 of 87 seats in Kashmir, its best showing ever in the Muslim-majority state, but still way short of a simple majority that it wanted to seize power.
The PDP's stand differs from that of BJP on crucial issues like Article 370 and on the continuation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state.
Also, if PDP decides to join hands with BJP, it risks putting its support base at stake which made its choice quite clear in the elections.
Akhtar added that PDP had all options open but it wanted to form a government in best interests of people of the state.
"For us, all options are open but we are trying to work out a deal that serves the people of Jammu and Kashmir the best. It's not just for forming the government. If that was the only motive then we now have the numbers and could have gone upto the governor and staked the claim. But, we want a government that delivers on all fronts," said Akhtar.
Also, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, had requested the Governor to be relieved as the caretaker chief minister.
