Omar set to become J-K CM

The Congress had signalled to National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah late last night that his son Omar Abdullah would be a better choice for the post of Jammu and Kashmir chief minister in case of an alliance between the two parties.

Sources said the Congress party, which met here under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi last night to discuss the post-poll scenario in Kashmir, reportedly conveyed to Farooq that “it would be better to have a fresh face as chief minister of the troubled state”.

This explains Farooq’s flip-flop on who would be the NC’s chief ministerial candidate for the proposed coalition with the Congress.

The senior Abdullah has changed his statements on the CM issue twice after the Assembly polls were declared yesterday — the first one favoured Omar as CM candidate, the second suggested his own name and the last statement, made today, took a complete U-turn.

The National Conference, which has won 28 sets in the 87-member legislative Assembly, is seeking the Congress support in forming the coalition government in the state. The Congress has bagged 17 seats. Support of at least 44 MLAs would be required to form a government.

Careful that nothing be done to “complicate matters in Kashmir”, Sonia Gandhi has told the party leaders that “care must be taken not to isolate the People's Democratic Party”. A senior leader of the Congress even called up Mehbooba Mufti to congratulate her on her party’s victory. At the same time, the party leaders today agreed to support the NC in government formation. A formal decision will be taken at the Congress core committee meeting tomorrow. A large section of the Congress feels that the party should be a part of the coalition government.

The Congress leaders in Delhi are viewing the leadership issue in J&K in relation to the ground situation in Kashmir, where militancy and the sentiment for ‘azadi’ is yet to die down completely.

The Congress holds the perception that while 72-year-old Farooq Abdullah comes across as an anathema to the pro-militant sections of the Kashmiris, who had demonstrated their power by holding massive demonstrations across the Valley in July-August, they may not hold much against Omar.

Farooq, however, was under pressure from his party to become the chief minister as it felt Omar was still too inexperienced to handle a difficult situation in the Valley. Also, NC senior leaders had warned Farooq that Omar may not be able to handle a wily Opposition in the PDP and the BJP.

However, the dice was clearly loaded in favour of Omar as Sonia Gandhi is said to fond of him and is wary of the senior Abdullah’s wavering nature.

She had even complimented Omar on his memorable speech in Parliament during the confidence vote for the Manmohan Singh government on July 22.

Farooq is likely to get elected to the Rajya Sabha once again and also hold the presidentship of the National Conference, sources said.