SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday dissolved the state assembly after Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference leader Sajad Lone and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti separately staked claim to form the government.

Lone claimed he had the support of 26 BJP legislators and 18 others, which would cross the majority mark of 44, reported NDTV news channel. Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti claimed she had the support of the Congress and the National Conference, taking their total to 56.

"As you are aware that Peoples Democratic Party is the largest party in the State assembly having a strength of 29. You might have gathered from the media reports that the Congress and National Conference has a strength of 15 and the Congress 12. That takes over collective strength to 56," Mufti said in letter she wrote to the governor and later tweeted.
Lone’s party has two MLAs, including himself, but he said he has the numbers in the assembly to form a government.

"Following our telephonic conversation regarding government formation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, I hereby formally stake claim for the government formation in the state with the support of the BJP and more than 18 other elected members of the J&K state legislature," he said.