Srinagar, Oct 16 : Omar Abdullah took the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, marking the formation of the first elected government in the union territory since the revocation of its special status in 2019.
This is Abdullah’s second term in office. He pledged to provide balanced representation by including ministers from both the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.
The Congress Party, while part of the pre-poll alliance, refrained from taking any ministerial positions in the newly formed government.
Abdullah’s return is viewed as a crucial step toward healing divisions and addressing the challenges faced since the abrogation of Article 370.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath to Abdullah at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
The ceremony was attended by senior leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, DMK’s Kanimozhi, and NCP’s Supriya Sule.
Party MLA Surinder Singh Choudhary, who gained attention for defeating state BJP chief Ravinder Raina, was appointed Deputy Chief Minister, ensuring representation for Jammu in the new administration.
Five MLAs also took their oaths on Wednesday: Satish Sharma (Independent), Sakina Itoo, Javid Dar, Surinder Singh Choudhary, and Javid Rana (all from the National Conference). Four cabinet posts remain vacant and will be filled once the expansion takes place.
Following the oath-taking ceremony, Omar Abdullah addressed the media, stating, “I fulfilled my promise by choosing a Deputy CM from Jammu. I had promised that the people of Jammu should not feel excluded from the government. Appointing a Deputy CM from Jammu sends a clear message that we aim to take them along.”
He noted that three cabinet posts are still vacant and will be filled shortly. Surinder Choudhary, representing the Jammu region, was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. MLA Javid Rana was also administered the oath as a minister, while Satish Sharma, an independent MLA from Chamb who extended support to the National Conference, was sworn in as a minister in Abdullah’s cabinet.
Congress Decides Not to Join Cabinet for Now
Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra stated that the party, which won six seats in the Assembly elections, would not join the Cabinet at this time, citing the demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“The Congress is not joining the ministry in the Jammu and Kashmir government at the moment. We have strongly urged the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister has repeatedly promised the same in public meetings,” Karra said.
“However, statehood has not yet been restored. We are dissatisfied and will therefore not join the ministry right now. The Congress will continue to advocate for the restoration of statehood,” he added.
In the September-October assembly polls, which were held after a decade, the National Conference-Congress alliance won 48 of the 90 Assembly seats, with the National Conference emerging as the single largest party, winning 42 seats.
After the oath-taking, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a meeting with all administrative secretaries at the Srinagar Civil Secretariat, receiving a grand reception and a ceremonial guard of honor.
The meeting included Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar, and Satish Sharma. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and the Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat were also in attendance.
Dulloo welcomed the new Chief Minister and expressed the administration’s full support for the Abdullah-led government. “We are fully dedicated to fulfilling the vision of the government and ensuring the progress of the people,” he stated.
Abdullah commended the officers for their role in ensuring peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasized the public’s faith in democracy. “We must rise to the occasion and meet the expectations that have been placed on us,” he said, focusing on a people-first governance approach.
He acknowledged a gap between the people and the government and expressed his commitment to bridging this divide. “Our administration’s approach will be people-friendly. We have entered the Civil Secretariat with a positive mindset, focused on delivering the best for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he asserted.
In a post on X earlier in the day, Omar Abdullah remarked, “I was the last Chief Minister to serve a full six-year term. Now I’ll be the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of J&K. The last distinction, as in serving six years, I’m quite happy about, but being CM of a Union Territory brings its own challenges. I hope that the status of a Union Territory is a temporary one.”
In another post on X, after his swearing-in, Omar instructed the Director General of Police that there should be no “green corridor” or traffic stoppage when he travels by road. “I have instructed him to minimize public inconvenience, and the use of sirens should be minimal. Our conduct must be people-friendly. We are here to serve the people, not to inconvenience them,” he stated.
