Jammu and Kashmir [Images] chief minister designate Omar Abdullah [Images] left for New Delhi [Images], on Thursday to join senior leaders of the National Conference, to work out the modalities of the coalition government with their  Congress counterparts.

The modalities include composition of the ministry, distribution of portfolios and a common minimum programme.

Three senior NC leaders, Abdul Rahim Rather, Mian Altaf and Mohammad Shafi Uri who flew to New Delhi on Wenesday have already had the first round of the parley's with the Congress team in New Delhi on Thursday.

The formation of ministry is stalled by the major problem of the Congress not being able to zero in on a candidate for deputy chief minister's post.

Sources said that the new coalition government will be sworn in on Monday, and in the first instance the chief minister and a deputy chief minister nominated by the Congress party will take the oath.

Later the full cabinet comprising of the Congress and NC ministers will be sworn in. The sources said the list of ministers was presently being finalised by the senior leaders of the two parties in Delhi.

It must be mentioned that the chief minister designate, Omar Abdullah has insisted on a deputy chief minister belonging to Jammu and to the Congress party.