NC emerges single largest party in J&K with 28 seats; continues back channel talks for government formation with Congress
The National Conference has emerged as the single-largest party in Jammu and Kashmir. In the hung assembly, National Conference is all poised to stake claim to form the next government with the  support of Congress. The National Conference has got 28 seats, exactly the same number it had in the dissolved Assembly. The Congress bagged 17, PDP 21, BJP Eleven, Jammu Kashmir National Panthers Party three, CPI(M) one and Independents and others six seats.
Prominent winners include former Chief Ministers Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Omar Abdullah of the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti  of the PDP have also won. Patron of National Conference Dr. Farooq Abdullah has won both Hazratbal and Sonawar seats. PDP leader Mufti Mohd Sayeed has been elected from Anantnag. Gulam Nabi Azad has retained Baderwah seat. Omar Abdullah has won from Ganderbal while Mehbooba Mufti from Wachi.      
Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party President Prof. Bhim Singh lost Jammu East seat from where BJP state unit chief Ashok Khajuria has been elected. Former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mangat Ram Sharma lost Jammu West. Former Union Minister and BJP candidate Mr. Chaman Lal Gupta has won this seat. In Ladakh, the National Conference has won two seats, the Congress and the Independent one each.
Meanwhile, back-channel talks have already begun between the National Conference and the Congress on the formation of the new government. National Conference President Omar Abdullah says his party will approach the Congress which is a like minded party. However, he rejected any alliance with the BJP and announced to keep an equal distance with the Peoples Democratic Party.