Srinagar: National Conference chief Omar Abdullah Sunday ruled out any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as Jammu and Kashmir appeared to be heading for another hung legislative assembly.

"There is no question of aligning with parties that tried to divide the state on communal lines," Abdullah told reporters.

Asked if he meant no alliance with the BJP, Abdullah said: "I am not signalling but clearly saying that the National Conference cannot join hands with the BJP."

The National Conference president has won the Ganderbal constituency.

A hung assembly seems to be on the cards in the state, with key parties appearing to be far behind the 44-seat half-way mark in the 87-member house as counting of votes polled in the seven-phased elections was underway.

The latest trends showed the National Conference was ahead in 25 seats, PDP leading in 22, Congress in 17 and BJP in 11.

The former union minister said the options of partnering with other "like-minded" parties were open.

"I will prefer to have an alliance with the Congress," Abdullah said, adding the final decision depends on the party as "the assembly is still shaping up".

"Nothing can be ruled out now. The final results are yet to come," he said.

Not ruling out an alliance with rival PDP, Abdullah, however, said: "The PDP has always played opportunist politics. I think it is time they stay in the opposition and learn what politics is about."

Earlier in the day, the National Conference president said his party was hopeful of forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir. "We are hoping for more than 35 seats,” he said.

 

Source : IANS