By Mohammad Tarique Saleem
On October 16, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah took the oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking a historic moment as the first leader to assume the post since the region was restructured into a Union Territory (UT) in 2019. The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, was presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and witnessed the attendance of several prominent leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc, adding to the political significance of the event.
Omar Abdullah, dressed in a black sherwani and his trademark sozni cap, was accompanied by five ministers in the oath-taking ceremony. Surinder Kumar Choudhary, a key leader from the Jammu region, was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. Choudhary, who represents the Nowshera constituency, secured his seat by defeating Ravinder Raina of the BJP.
Among the new ministers was Sakina Itoo, the only woman in the initial cabinet, who won her seat from Noorabad in South Kashmir. Other cabinet members include Javed Rana from Mendhar, former minister Javed Dar, and independent legislator Satish Sharma from Chamb. The event also saw the presence of Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who attended the ceremony with his children.
This swearing-in ceremony is significant as it marks Omar Abdullah’s return to leadership after his previous term as Chief Minister from 2009 to 2015. Addressing reporters before the event, Abdullah acknowledged the unique milestones in his political journey: “I was the last Chief Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to serve a full six-year term. Now, I will be the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of J&K.” He further expressed hope that the UT status would be temporary and that statehood would soon be restored.
Abdullah pledged that his administration would focus on becoming the voice of the people, working towards their welfare, and restoring J&K’s statehood. He assured residents of Jammu that their interests would be represented through the appointment of Surinder Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister. “We will not let Jammu feel they do not have a voice or proper representation,” he emphasized.
The formation of the 10-member Ministerial Council also signals the beginning of a new political chapter for the region, which 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.
However, the absence of six Congress legislators from the ceremony drew attention. Ghulam Ahmad Mir, the Congress Legislative Party leader, explained that their absence was a protest against the central government’s failure to fulfill its promise of restoring statehood. “Now that elections are over, there is no justification for further delay. We will join the government only after statehood is restored,” Mir stated.
Top political figures, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and AAP leader Sanjay Singh, were present at the event, demonstrating strong support for the newly formed government. Mehbooba Mufti urged the new administration to pass a resolution condemning the abrogation of Article 370 and to prioritize issues such as unemployment and drug addiction.
The National Conference-Congress alliance, which secured a majority by winning 42 and six seats respectively in the recent elections, has formed the government with additional support from five Independent MLAs and one AAP MLA. The BJP, although it increased its tally to 29 seats, remains in opposition.
With Omar Abdullah’s leadership, expectations are high for governance that addresses the aspirations of the people. Opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, reiterated the demand for the restoration of statehood. “Now that elections are completed, it’s time for the Centre to fulfill its promise and restore J&K’s statehood,” Yadav asserted.