Outgoing Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah signalled his intention to stake claim to form the government despite a weak mandate for the National Conference (NC) in the just-concluded assembly elections.

“Incidentally in 2002, Mufti (PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) became CM (chief minister) with 16 MLAs (members of legislature) and NC with 28 sat in opposition, so excuse me if I don’t oblige by rolling over to play dead,” Abdullah said in a tweet.

In a fractured mandate, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as single largest with 28 seats, the BJP close behind with 25, while the NC, the party that was in power until the poll results were announced Tuesday, dropped to third position with 15 seats in the 87-member Assembly.

Abdullah submitted his resignation Wednesday amid speculations with respect to the new political equations that may emerge between the PDP and other potential stakeholders that target 44+ seats to pitch for government formation.

He reminisced on Twitter: “6 years ago I drove in to stake my claim to form a government in J&K, now I’m driving in to resign. The wheel comes full circle.”