After being snubbed by Congress in Haryana, AAP offers support to National Conference in J&K

The Party's lone MLA, Mehraj Malik of the Doda constituency, has given a letter of support to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The support of this seat in the NC's corner will not change Chief Minister-elect Omar Abdullah's fortunes as he has a majority of 46 in the 90-member House.

However, the party's support for the NC and not its backing the Congress underlines the latter's change in status.

While the NC won 42 of the former state's 90 Assembly seats, its ally partner Congress won just six seats compared to 12 in the last election.

The Congress' performance invited fierce criticism from allies, particularly after a dismal show in the Haryana election.

It also emphasised its precarious position as INDIA bloc head.

INDIA bloc member Shiv Sena (UBT) launched a scathing attack on the Congress after the Haryana horror, calling out the party's Delhi HQ for failing to reign in state leader Bhupinder Hooda and, significantly, not sharing seats with allies - either AAP or Samajwadi Party.

AAP's support to the National Conference - and not the INDIA bloc - has also been seen as another Congress ally's jab over the party's failure to reach seat-share deals.

The two parties held several rounds of talks for the Haryana election, but could not team up, with a recalcitrant Bhupinder Hooda being blamed.