Omar Abdullah meets Governor, says NC favours mid-term polls over horse-trading

JAMMU: In the backdrop of the stalemate in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today called on Governor NN Vohra but ruled out National Conference providing an alternative saying his party would rather prefer mid-term elections than indulging in "horse-trading".

He, however, said nobody wants mid-term polls, but if a government is not formed, then election is the only way out.

"There is an effort right now to gather support independent of Mehbooba Mufti. I think rushing to Delhi is Mehbooba Mufti's last ditch effort to save her party because she realises if she does not form the government on the terms and conditions set by BJP, her party will split and if her party splits then she will be in a much weaker position than she is today. So she is trying to save her party," Omar told reporters after meeting Vohra at Raj Bhawan.

"I hope she meets the Prime Minister and the government is formed so that we can take the role of an effective opposition party. We have prepared ourselves for the role of opposition for six years," the working president of NC said.

Governor's Rule was imposed in the state on January 8 after the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Omar also said he would never prefer horse trading to end the stalemate.

"Don't look towards us for an alternative. Jammu and Kashmir has not come out of what happened in 1984. I am not in favour of 20-25 people splitting PDP and forming another party. I am not in favour of that," he said.

"I met the Governor after quite a long time. We discussed about the situation in the state, about the budget," he said, adding "If PDP cannot take support from Congress, then the Governor should dissolve the Assembly and order fresh elections."

But he hoped a new government is formed and the state is saved from fresh elections.

"My request to PDP is to take a final call and not to continue the stalemate. It's not that we want to force fresh elections on the state," he said.

According to him, the governor is "waiting for the day" when PDP and BJP would come and stake claim to form the government.