Srinagar, December 19: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday pitched for early elections to the state Assembly.

Talking to reporters during a function at his residence, where two expelled senior PDP leaders -- Basharat Bukhari and Peer Muhammad Hussain -- joined his party on the day, Abdullah said: "Governor's rule or the President's rule must come to an end.

"Elections should be held so that the people can choose their representatives who will work."

On a day the union cabinet recommended imposition of President's rule in the state as the six-month long Governor's rule came to an end, Abdullah pitched for early elections.

Speaking about the grand alliance shaping in the country ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NC chief said: "Alliances will be mostly in the states and those states will produce the results for the Parliament. And that will make the difference.

"In some places there will be strong alliances and at other places there will be mix alliances but the states will be important factors."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 19, 2018 03:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).