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Onkar Singh in Srinagar and agencies
In a significant development, the National Conference on Sunday said it has not closed its options to stake claim to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted the governor was constitutionally bound to invite the party as it has emerged as the single largest group.
"Constitutionally, it is the duty of the governor to ask the single largest party to form the government," senior NC leader Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Shah told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of the working committee of the party in Srinagar.
The stand of the party, which won 28 seats in the 87-member House, is in stark contrast with the statements made by outgoing chief minister Farooq Abdullah and NC president Omar Abdullah who had conceded defeat and said they would not stake claim to form government.
Asked whether the party was in touch with some independents and smaller groups to gain the number required to forming a government, Shah said, "Political wings talk to political wings. We have not closed the doors and in politics there are always surprises."
He also said the working committee rejected the resignation of Omar Abdullah as the president of the party, adding that Farooq Abdullah was made the 'patron' of the National Conference.
He said Omar Abdullah would meet the governor on Monday. Asked whether the issue of pulling out of the National Democratic Alliance was discussed, he replied in the negative.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held on Sunday evening to take stock of the situation in the backdrop of discussions between Mufti and Gandhi and other leaders.
Emerging from the discussions with Singh and other leaders, Sayeed said the issue of chief ministership has to be sorted out by both the parties mutually.
Sayeed said no decision had yet been reached and parleys were still continuing. "It is premature to say anything at the moment," he said.
On the issue of chief ministership, Sayeed said there were several 'capable' candidates and denied that it could become a point of contention between the two main parties.
Sayeed said the main emphasis at the moment is formation of a coalition government to give an alternative to National Conference.
Azad said the discussions centred on evolving the Common Minimum Programme considering the respective manifestos of the two parties.
While the People's Democratic Party has been advocating controversial methods to tackle militancy, including release of militants from prisons, Congress does not favour such an adventurous approach.
Sayeed's meeting with Singh was held at the Congress leader's residence where Ambika Soni and Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Ghulam Nabi Azad were also present. On the issue of CMP, Sayeed said both the parties had stated positions and people had expectations, which needed to be fulfilled.
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