We don’t believe in marriage of convenience: National Conference

Srinagar/New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called some senior National Conference leaders and his close associates to Delhi for consultations and to assist him in talks with the BJP leadership to form government in the state.

Mr Abdullah has delayed his visit to London where his parents have recently undergone surgery. He flew back to Srinagar from Delhi on Thursday afternoon and tweeted, “All the camera crews outside my home are going to be very disappointed when I leave Srinagar tomorrow having met no one ‘interesting’ here.”

Reports emanating from the BJP and the NC sources in Delhi and Srinagar said that the saffron party is adamant on having its chief minister in the state for a full six-year term but the NC wants a rotational Chief Minister, besides three major portfolios.

As the two sides have agreed to continue with the discussions, the BJP has conveyed to Mr Abdullah that a final decision will be taken only after Mr Jaitley meets state party leaders.

However, a senior leader of the NC ruled out tying up with the BJP, saying: “We don't believe in marriage of convenience and sacrificing our fundamental principles.”

The leader made it clear that his party had strong fundamental differences with the BJP and that the possibility of the National Conference joining hands with the saffron party was “next to nil.”