September 17, 2026 04:03 am (IST)
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Amit Shah will take final call on J&K govt formation: Jaitley
Jammu, Dec 25 (IBNS): Union finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday met the newly elected MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir and said the decision on government formation in the northern state has been left to party chief Amit Shah.
Jaitley, who met BJP's 25 MLAs in Jammu after being appointed as observer along with the party's national secretary Arun Singh, said: "I met each new elected MLAs of BJP separately. The result here has created a situation for hung Assembly. I took advice on the government formation in such situation from all. The MLA's also advised on the role of BJP."
He said the MLAs decided to authorize BJP President Amit Shah to decide on the government formation here.
"The MLAs unanimously opined that BJP Chief Amit Shah will decide upon the role of the BJP and how the government will be formed here," Jaitley said.
The BJP has emerged as a major player for the first time in the state.
"The highest populous vote is with the BJP. We have got an overwhelming mandate in Jammu so whoever forms government, the BJP will have a key role," Jaitley pointed out.
He said, "BJP's formula for government formation will be on three principles - development, strengthening India's sovereignty and maintaining regional balance. Many options open to the BJP on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. We are in touch with untouched members of the new state Assembly."
Jaitley also said that while many options are open for the party, they are in touch with the Independent legislators as well.
"We are in touch with unattached members," said he.
The fate of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is still undecided.
Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, who lost the Assembly polls and said he will not approach any party over government formation, reportedly met BJP leaders in New Delhi on Thursday morning.
"We met and there have been talks and since there have been talks, they will continue in the long run, (Ab Milen hain to baat hui hai, aur baat hui hai to dur talak jaegi)," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN channel.
Omar Abdullah on Wednesday resigned as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters after tendering his resignation, he said the onus of the government formation in the state lies on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The poll result from the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir election saw BJP winning 25 seats, Indian National Congress winning 12 seats, PDP winning the highest number of 28 seats and 7 seats were won by others in the 87-member assembly.
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