Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah retweeted PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s comments, putting the bonhomie between two arch political rivals on public display and said that he had never thought he would retweet her comments while agreeing with her.

“And I never thought I’d be retweeting anything you said while agreeing with you. Politics truly is a strange world. Good luck for the battle ahead. Once again the wisdom of the people will prevail,” Omar wrote while retweeting Mufti’s tweets.

Omar retweeted Mufti four times in a span of 15 minutes.

And I never thought I’d be retweeting anything you said while agreeing with you. Politics truly is a strange world. Good luck for the battle ahead. Once again the wisdom of the people will prevail. https://t.co/OcN9uRje1s

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 21, 2018

In a dramatic development, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was dissolved on Wednesday night after three mainstream parties came together to stake claim to form a government that was countered by Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone with the BJP’s backing.

The dissolution was announced by Governor Satyapal Malik in a communique released by the Raj Bhavan.

Governor Satya Pal Malik made a terse announcement, saying he was exercising powers conferred on him by the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and dissolving the House which had two more years to go.

The dissolution came shortly after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Conference and the Congress came together and staked claim to form a government in a bid to checkmate moves by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a government with the support of PDP rebels and Lone.

Questioning the timing of the dissolution, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said: “Since the past five months, regardless of political affiliations, we shared the view that the state Assembly be dissolved immediately to avert horse trading and defections.

PS – In todays age of technology, it is very strange that the fax machine at HE Governor’s residence didn’t receive our fax but swiftly issued one regarding the assembly dissolution. 🤔4/4

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 21, 2018

Since the past five months, regardless of political affiliations, we shared the view that the state assembly be dissolved immediately to avert horse trading & defections. 2/4

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 21, 2018

“Oddly enough, our pleas fell on deaf ears. But who would have thought that the very idea of a grand coalition would give such jitters.”

Oddly enough our pleas fell on deaf ears. But who would have thought that the very idea of a grand coalition would give such jitters. 3/4

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 21, 2018

Reacting to the dissolution of Assembly, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “We were not interested in forming the new government, nor was the National Conference. We had not given any support to the Peoples Democratic Party. It was only an idea which was floated by some people and it was at initial stage of discussion.”

“There should be elections as soon as possible. We don’t want a prolonged President’s rule in the state. Of course, it may take two-three months. But there should be fresh elections now at the earliest,” Azad added.

Omar Abdullha in his tweet said: “National Conference has been pressing for Assembly dissolution for five months now. It can’t be a coincidence that within minutes of Mehbooba Mufti letter staking claim the order to dissolve the Assembly suddenly appears.”

Taking a dig at the Raj Bhawan for not receiving her letter of support via fax, Mehbooba tweeted: “In today’s age of technology, it is very strange that the fax machine at Governor’s residence didn’t receive our fax but swiftly issued one regarding the Assembly dissolution.”

Omar Abdullha quipped: “J&K Raj Bhawan needs a new fax machine urgently.”

Earlier in the evening, former Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti wrote to the Governor, stating that the Congress and the National Conference had decided to extend support to her party to form a government in the troubled state.

This was countered by Lone, who also wrote to the Governor staking claim to form the government with BJP’s backing. He claimed support of 18 MLAs besides the 25-strong BJP, contending that it was more than the required number for majority.

Mufti, in her letter to the Governor, said that with a strength of 29 MLAs of its own, the PDP would have a collective strength of 56 MLAs including 15 of the National Conference and 12 of the Congress.

Until the news of dissolution came, former state Finance and Education Minister Altaf Bukhari was reportedly tipped to be the next Chief Minister of the PDP-led collation.

In the 87-member House, the BJP has 25 MLAs, all from Jammu, and claims the support of Valley-based Peoples Conference which has two MLAs.

(With inputs from agencies)