Jammu and Kashmir: Sajjad Lone stakes claim to form government with BJP support to counter Mehbooba's grand alliance

In a tug of war, soon after Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Congress confirmed that they would form a government in the state with support from National Conference (NC), Jammu Kashmir Peoples' Conference (JKPC) chairman Sajjad Lone also wrote a letter to Governor Satya Pal Malik, claiming to form a government.

While the PDP has 28 legislators in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly, the Congress has 12 and the National Conference has 15 legislators. Lone asserted that he has the support of the BJP and 18 other elected members. The BJP has 25 legislators and the Peoples Conference has 2. A party or alliance needs 44 MLAs to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Read | LIVE: Jammu and Kashmir Governor dissolves Assembly after Mufti, Sajjad Lone stake claims

Mehbooba tweeted her letter to the governor, claiming that she had not been able to get through to his office over phone or fax. “Have been trying to send this letter to Raj Bhavan. Strangely the fax is not received. Tried to contact HE Governor on phone. Not available. Hope you see it,” she tweeted, uploading a copy of her letter.

Have been trying to send this letter to Rajbhavan. Strangely the fax is not received. Tried to contact HE Governor on phone. Not available. Hope you see it @jandkgovernor pic.twitter.com/wpsMx6HTa8

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 21, 2018

Earlier there were reports that senior PDP leader and former finance minister Altaf Bukhari is the front-runner for the chief minister's post. Though PDP president Mehbooba wanted Farooq Abdullah to lead the alliance, National Conference has decided not to be a part of the government and support the PDP-Congress alliance from outside.

Read | Mehbooba Mufti stakes claim to form government in J-K, sends letter to Governor with support of NC, Congress

“The alliance would likely be announced by the evening and after that, the alliance partners would meet the Governor and stake claim,” Indian Express quoted a senior PDP leader.