National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday met Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and staked claim to form the new government in the Union territory.

Omar Abdullah emerged as the most popular candidate for Chief Minister, with nearly one-third of the voters favouring him. Mehbooba Mufti held a distant second place. Nearly one-fourth of voters did not disclose their preferred chief ministerial candidate (Table 3).

Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the election process would allow the 90-member J&K Assembly to elect four representatives to the Rajya Sabha. Alongside Abdullah, there were talks of sending Nasir Aslam Wani as the second member, reflecting the party's strategy to strengthen its presence in the national political arena.

NC Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said Omar Abdullah has been unanimously elected as the leader of the legislature party and the leaders of the pre-poll alliance partners will meet on Friday to take the

Political leaders from across party lines congratulated National Conference leader Omar Abdullah after his party won a majority in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.