National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the region’s first elected government since its special status was revoked in 2019.
The oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at a ceremony held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre.
Abdullah’s government includes five other members from the NC: Sakina Masood (Itoo), Javed Dar, Javed Rana, Surinder Choudhary, and Satish Sharma. The Congress party, which allied with Abdullah’s NC but performed poorly in the recent elections, refused to join the government and said it will offer outside support.
JKNC VP @OmarAbdullah takes oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. The oath was administered by the Lieutenant Governor of J&K. pic.twitter.com/zuLGn3MQz1
— JKNC (@JKNC_) October 16, 2024
Leaders of INDIA Alliance Attend Ceremony
Several prominent leaders from the opposition INDIA alliance attended the swearing-in, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, K Kanimozhi, Supriya Sule, D Raja, and Sanjay Singh. Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former J&K Chief Minister, was also present at the ceremony.
In his remarks, Omar Abdullah expressed hope that Jammu and Kashmir’s Union Territory status would be temporary. “We look forward to working with the Government of India to resolve the people’s problems, and the best way to start would be by restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said after offering prayers at the Hazratbal shrine.
NC’s Election Victory
Omar Abdullah led the National Conference to a decisive victory in the September-October 2024 elections, securing 42 of the 90 assembly seats. His party enjoys support from four Independents, one AAP legislator, and the Congress, which won six seats. This victory comes after Abdullah’s setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where he was defeated but later secured both the Budgam and Ganderbal assembly seats.
The new administration marks a crucial turning point for Jammu and Kashmir as it aims to tackle regional challenges and work towards the restoration of full statehood.
