Omar calls on Sonia

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and discussed various matters concerning the state's development and functioning of the coalition government, an official statement said here.

"The chief minister expressed gratitude to the UPA chairperson for the support extended by the UPA government to Jammu and Kashmir state for carrying forward development process equitably and inclusively across the state," it said.

The meeting between Gandhi and Abdullah came against the backdrop of media reports in Jammu and Kashmir suggesting the grassroots level cadres of both Congress and Abdullah's National Conference are opposed to any pre-poll alliance between the two before the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections being held this year.

Congress and the National Conference have been running a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2008 assembly elections.