• Surinder Choudhary appointed Deputy CM..
• Second term of Omar Abdullah as CM after 2009
• First task of this government will be to become the voice of the people: Omar
• LOP Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Mehbooba among other attend oath ceremony
• Congress stays out of oath-taking, demanding the Centre restore J&K’s statehood
• Pass resolution rejecting 2019 August decisions: Mehbooba
Srinagar, Oct 16: National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah took oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking his second term in the top post, at a ceremony held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on Wednesday. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha presided over the event, which was attended by several leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc, underscoring its political significance.
Dressed in a black Sherwani and his signature sozni cap, Omar Abdullah was joined by five other ministers in the oath-taking ceremony, including Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who was appointed Deputy Chief Minister. Choudhary, a prominent leader from the Jammu region, won the Nowshera constituency by defeating BJP’s Ravinder Raina.
Among the new ministers is Sakina Itoo, the only woman in the initial lineup, who secured her seat from the Noorabad constituency in south Kashmir’s Kulgam. Others who took oath include Javed Rana from Mendhar in Rajouri, former minister Javed Dar, and independent legislator from Chamb, Satish Sharma.
This swearing-in marks a historic moment as Omar Abdullah becomes the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory (UT) of J&K, following the revocation of the region’s special status in August 2019. The event also highlighted Abdullah’s return to leadership after his previous term, which ran from January 2009 to January 2015.
Several leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc were in attendance at the ceremony, underscoring the political significance of the event.
Speaking to reporters before the ceremony, Omar Abdullah emphasized that his administration’s priority would be to become the voice of the people and work towards the restoration of statehood. “We have the mandate from the people to get to work to resolve their problems, and that is what we aim to do from day one. We look forward to cooperating with the Government of India to address these issues,” Abdullah said.
He also noted the unique distinctions in his political journey. “I was the last chief minister to serve a full six-year term. Now, I will be the first chief minister of the Union Territory of J&K,” he said, adding that he hopes the UT status is temporary and that full statehood will be restored soon.
Abdullah assured residents of the Jammu region that their representation in the government would be ensured through the Deputy Chief Minister, stating, “We will not let Jammu feel they do not have a voice or representation.”
The Union Territory of J&K now has a 10-member Ministerial Council, including the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, six Congress legislators did not attend the ceremony. Congress Legislative Party leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir stated that the party’s decision was a protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s failure to restore statehood to J&K, despite earlier commitments.
“The Centre had committed to a three-step process: delimitation, elections, and then statehood. Now that elections are completed, there is no justification for delaying the restoration of statehood to J&K. We will join the government once that is accomplished,” said Mir.
The event was attended by top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, JKPDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, and AAP leader Sanjay Singh. CPI(M)’s Prakash Karat and MPs Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Supriya Sule were also present.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described the day as “auspicious” for the people of J&K. She urged the new administration to pass a resolution condemning the decisions of August 2019 and to address key issues such as unemployment and drug addiction. “People have given this party (NC) a mandate with a lot of hope that they will condemn the decisions of August 2019 on the floor of the house,” Mufti said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Akhilesh Yadav also reiterated the demand for statehood, stating, “Now that the elections have been held, the Centre should restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.”
“We are with the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir and hope that the NC-Congress government will work for the betterment of the region. Now the centre should restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The National Conference-Congress alliance secured a majority in the maiden assembly elections after the abrogation of Article 370. The NC won 42 seats, with Congress taking six. The alliance was further strengthened by the support of five Independent MLAs and one AAP MLA. The BJP secured 29 seats, an increase from the 25 seats it held in the 2014 assembly.
Jammu and Kashmir had been under President’s Rule since June 2018, following the BJP’s withdrawal of support from the coalition government led by PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti.
