A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has said the party was ready to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir and “we will stake claim as and when numbers come our way”.

After their former ally, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), BJP has the second highest number of lawmakers in an Assembly of 89.

“The party is ready to form the government any time. We will stake a claim as and when the numbers come our way,” The Tribune quoted Ashok Koul, organising secretary of the state BJP, as having said.

“The BJP on its own has 26 MLAs (25 elected and one nominated) in the House of 89 (87 elected and two nominated) and we need 19 others to stake the claim,” Koul said.

Koul’s claim comes amid reports of discussions going on in New Delhi over government formation in the state where six month Governor’s rule will be over next month.

Quoting sources, The Tribune said the BJP was holding consultations with some PDP legislators who had rebelled against the party after the fall of the government.