Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah met BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Thursday, triggering speculation over whether the two parties are exploring options to form the state government together.

On Wednesday, Omar Abdullah signalled his intention to stake claim to form the government despite a weak mandate for the National Conference in the just-concluded Assembly elections, which threw a fractured verdict. The BJP won 25 seats while the National Conference won 15 seats in the 87-member Assembly, four seats short of a simple majority if the two come together. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats.

"Incidentally in 2002, Mufti (PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) became CM (chief minister) with 16 MLAs (members of legislature) and NC with 28 sat in opposition, so excuse me if I don't oblige by rolling over to play dead," Abdullah said in a tweet on Wednesday.
 
Abdullah submitted his resignation to Governor N N Vohra on Wednesday amid speculations with respect to the new political equations that may emerge between the PDP and other potential stakeholders that target 44+ seats to pitch for government formation. "6 years ago I drove in to stake my claim to form a government in J&K, now I'm driving in to resign. The wheel comes full circle," he said on Twitter.

Shortly afterwards, his Twitter account announced in boldface - "Keep calm cause I'll be back." He also changed his bio there to: "Former CM of J&K; MLA from Beerwah, Budgam (the gateway to Gulmarg).

Source: IT