Srinagar: National Conference President Omar Obdullah is all set to become the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir with his father Farooq Abdullah and the party clearing his name to head a coalition with Congress after a night of confusion.

38-year-old Omar, whose father and party Patron Farooq was projected as the chief ministerial candidate in the elections, will travel to Delhi for talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi for working out a post-poll arrangement that will enable the two to form a government.
"I have been authorised by the party to hold talks with Congress leaders, finalise all issues pertaining to the alliance and cement an accord," Omar told PTI.

72-year-old Farooq, who had injected an element of uncertainty last night by saying he would be the chief minister, retracted this morning after discussions with his son.

"I think time has come when I will recommend to my own party that we should have a younger man leading them because work hard, a lot has to be done," he said with his son by his side.

He said Omar had done well leading the party but unfortunately it could not not get a majority. "It will be a coalition and Omar is the best man to handle such a situation," the former chief minister said.

Emerging from his father's residence, Omar, who could break the 26-year-old record of his father when he became chief minister at the age of 45 years, told reporters earlier that "a decision has ben taken that my name will be put forward at the Legislature Party meeting of the National Conference for the post of chief minister."

Source : PTI