Omar Abdullah Sworn In As First Chief Minister Of J&K UT

Srinagar: In a significant departure from the past, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking a new chapter in the region’s political landscape. Surinder Kumar Choudhary, a prominent leader from Jammu, took office as Deputy Chief Minister during a ceremony presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday.
Choudhary’s appointment follows his victory over BJP leader Ravinder Raina in the Nowshera constituency, emphasizing a strategic regional balance in the newly formed cabinet. Among the five other ministers sworn in was Sakina Itoo who secured her seat in the Assembly from the Noorabad constituency in Kulgam. The new cabinet also includes Javed Rana, who won from Mendhar in Rajouri, former minister Javed Dar, independent legislator Satish Sharma from Chamb, and others.
The Congress opted out of the new Cabinet for now, citing its demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, as promised by the Centre, and said it would continue to fight for it. This marks Omar Abdullah’s second term as Chief Minister, having previously served from January 2009 to January 2015. He now becomes the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the region’s special status in 2019, which significantly enhanced the powers of the Lieutenant Governor. The ceremony drew attendance from various leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc, highlighting its political significance. Speaking to reporters ahead of the swearing-in, Abdullah emphasized that the government’s initial task will be to represent the voices of the people. He expressed optimism that Jammu and Kashmir would not remain a Union territory for long and would soon regain full statehood. “We have the mandate from the people to address their concerns, and that is our goal from day one. We look forward to working closely with the Government of India to resolve issues and restore statehood to J&K,” he stated.
Reflecting on his political journey, Omar noted his unique distinctions, saying, “I was the last chief minister to serve a full six-year term, and now I will be the first chief minister of the Union Territory of J&K. Serving as a Chief Minister of a Union Territory brings its own challenges, but I hope this status is temporary.” Assuring that Jammu would have adequate representation, he mentioned the appointment of Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister as a step toward ensuring that the region’s concerns are addressed. National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that the new government in Jammu and Kashmir will put an end to the sufferings of people from both the regions. Farooq Abdullah said that the government will treat both the regions equally and will also end the sufferings of people.
The new Ministerial Council comprises ten members, including the Chief Minister. Notably, none of the six Congress legislators participated in the oath-taking ceremony. Congress Legislative Party leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir stated that their absence was a protest against the central government’s failure to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. “The Centre had committed to a three-step process: delimitation, elections, and statehood. Now that elections are complete, there is no justification for delaying the restoration of statehood,” he said. Prominent political figures, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah, and others, attended the ceremony. Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described the day as “auspicious” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, urging the new administration to address critical issues such as unemployment, drug addiction, and power shortages. The oath ceremony was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal. Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader & MP Sanjay Singh, DMK MP Kanimozhi, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, Lok Sabha member and daughter of Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and CPI leader D.Raja also attended the ceremony. Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, and Tarun Chugh, National General Secretary of the BJP also attended the oath-taking ceremony.
Dr Farooq Abdullah arrived with his wife Mollie Abdullah and daughter while two sons of Omar Abdullah also attended the oath ceremony. All elected MLAs were present in addition to senior civil and police officers during the function. The function was conducted by Mandeep Bhandari, principal secretary to the Lt Governor. He requested all the dignitaries present during the function to join the L-G for a cup of tea on the lawns of the SKICC.
The National Conference-Congress alliance emerged victorious in the recent assembly elections held after the abrogation of Article 370, with the NC winning 42 seats and Congress securing 6. This majority was bolstered by the support of five Independent MLAs and one Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, while the Bharatiya Janata Party increased its presence, winning 29 seats compared to 25 in the previous assembly elections. Jammu and Kashmir has been under President’s rule since June 2018, following the BJP’s withdrawal of support from the coalition government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).