Four independents extend support to NC, party reaches majority in J&K

New Delhi — The Congress has been relegated from a junior partner in the incoming Jammu and Kashmir government to a relative non-entity, after four independent MLAs extended support to the National Conference, the ‘big brother’ in the alliance that won this week’s election.

The NC now has the support of 46 lawmakers – the majority mark in the 90-member House; this does not include the five to be nominated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Chief Minister-elect Omar Abdullah does not, therefore, now need the support of the Congress to govern, adding to an existential crisis that has dogged the national party over the last decade, fuelled by all-too-many leadership squabbles and election losses.