Emerging as the single-largest party in a hung Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference is all set to stake claim for forming the next government, for which it will approach the Congress.
The NC is projected to win 27 seats in a House of 87 and was ahead of its rivals Mehbooba Mufti-headed People's Demcratic Party, which is projected to win 22, and Congress 16, according to trends.
Only 32 results have been actually declared, of which the NC bagged nine seats and is projected to win another 20 seats in a house of 87 members.
With no party getting the required 44 seats for a majority, the Congress will play the 'kingmaker'. The Congress has already won four seats and is ahead in 12 other seats.
If the projections hold true, the Congress and the NC may join hands to form the government after the long seven-phased polls spread over five weeks, which saw a record voter turnout of 61 per cent in the state.
An elated Omar Abdullah, who spearheaded his party's campaign and also won from Ganderbal seat by a margin of 3,600 votes, said they would approach the Congress for forming the government. His father and party patron Farooq Abdullah won from Hazratbal seat but was trailing in Sonawar.
Though the Congress is yet to reveal its cards, party president Sonia Gandhi has convened a high-level meeting of senior leaders to formulate a strategy on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who won the election from Baderwah, said the party would ally with any party which would help combat terrorism.