Lagatar24 Desk
Srinagar: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first government in the Union Territory since it lost its special status in 2019. The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar, saw eight other lawmakers from Abdullah’s party take oath. The oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
The Congress, which had formed an alliance with the National Conference for the elections but performed poorly, declined the offer of a ministerial post and has decided to support the government from outside. Sources confirmed that the party was offered one ministerial position but chose to extend support without joining the government.
Key leaders of the opposition INDIA alliance, including Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, DMK’s K Kanimozhi, NCP’s Supriya Sule, CPI’s D Raja, and AAP’s Sanjay Singh, attended the ceremony. Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, was also present.
Omar Abdullah, the first elected leader of Jammu and Kashmir in over a decade, expressed his hope that the region’s status as a Union Territory will be temporary. Speaking after offering prayers at the Hazratbal shrine, he said, “We look forward to working with the Government of India to resolve the people’s problems, and the best way to start would be by restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.”
