Omar Abdullah takes oath as CM Jammu and Kashmir

KASHMIR: Omar Abdullah, leader of the National Conference, has taken the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the formation of the region’s first government since its special status was revoked.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath to Abdullah and eight other lawmakers from his party at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.

Notably, the Congress party, which had previously allied with Abdullah’s National Conference, declined to join the government despite being offered a ministerial position. This decision came after the Congress performed poorly in recent elections.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by prominent leaders from the INDIA alliance, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, K. Kanimozhi of the DMK, and Supriya Sule.

Abdullah’s National Conference secured 42 of the 90 seats in the J&K polls, while the Congress won six. Together, they hold a majority in the 95-member Assembly, which also includes five members appointed by the lieutenant governor.

Abdullah’s oath-taking ceremony marks a significant development in Jammu and Kashmir’s politics, especially since the region’s special status was revoked. As Chief Minister, Abdullah will lead the government in a Union Territory that has only 10 ministerial positions.