Nc Will Join United Front

"We will be part of the United Front and we will have ministers at the Centre," Farooq told a news agency.

He thus set his party and his prospective government on a path that could lead it to the forefront of the movement across the country towards regional autonomy, rather than on a confrontation with the Centre over enhanced autonomy for only his strife-torn state.

Abdullah met Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to discuss closer cooperation. He also met leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha AB Vajpayee and planned to call on other former prime ministers. He has also been in close touch with other UF leaders.