Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, establishing the first elected government in the Union Territory since Article 370 was repealed. This is a major political development. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy during the swearing-in event, which was held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. In addition to Abdullah, five other ministers were sworn in: Satish Sharma, Surinder Choudhary, Javed Dar, Javed Rana, and Sakina Masood (Itoo).
One of the key appointments in Abdullah’s new cabinet is that of Surinder Kumar Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister. Choudhary, who left the BJP and joined the National Conference (NC) last year, was selected by Abdullah to ensure that the people of Jammu feel represented in the new government. Addressing this move, Abdullah stated, “I had said that we will not allow Jammu to feel that they do not have a voice or representatives in this government.” Choudhary, who defeated BJP’s Ravinder Raina in the Nowshera constituency, is currently the only National Conference MLA from Hindu-majority areas.
Omar Abdullah, resuming his second term as Chief Minister, visited the Civil Secretariat shortly after the oath ceremony, holding an introductory meeting with administrative secretaries to outline his government’s priorities. Abdullah, who previously held the position of Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was still a state, expressed his determination to navigate the challenges of the new administration. His return to power is seen as a crucial step in reviving electoral politics in the region.
The National Conference, in alliance with the Congress, secured 48 seats in the 90-member assembly in the recently concluded elections. The NC emerged as the leading party with 42 seats, while Congress won 6. However, despite its alliance with the NC, the Congress chose not to join the Council of Ministers. The decision was rooted in the party’s dissatisfaction over the non-restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in his congratulatory
message to Abdullah, reiterated the party’s commitment to fight for the restoration of statehood, saying that the formation of the government “felt incomplete” without it.
In response, Omar Abdullah thanked Gandhi for his support and pledged to work towards restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He also expressed his appreciation for the presence of both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi at the oath ceremony, stating that their support had encouraged his family and the NC leadership.
This marks a significant moment for Jammu and Kashmir, as the region gets its first elected government since 2019. Omar Abdullah’s leadership and his newly formed cabinet are expected to address the complex political landscape while continuing the campaign for statehood restoration.